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    16Oct, 2019
    NWU academic advocates strategies on greener and sustainable cremation

    “In the coming years it’s imperative that religious leaders must rethink alternative strategies for laying the dead to rest, and greener and sustainable cremations
    should rather be considered than burials.”

    This is according to Prof Ravinder Rena who was one of the speakers during the recent 2nd Pan African Cemeteries and Crematoria Conference in Durban.

    This conference was organised by the South African Cemeteries Association and attended by researchers, academics and policy makers from across the world.

    The event aimed to shine the spotlight on the shortage of burial places and included themes such as Africa’s trends and paradigm shifts on burial alternatives and land scarcity; Traditional, Cultural and religious dynamics of the industry and Sustainable cemetery development – Africa’s perspective and status quo.

    During his address Prof Rena, a professor of economics at the North-West University (NWU) Business School, unpacked some figures regarding global population growth and a need for cremation practices.

    He noted that the world’s population currently stands at 7,7 billion – more than double than the 3 billion in 1960.

    “In the face of this exponential population growth and given the amount of land used for burials, we are running out of space,” he said.

    “If we don’t take precautionary measures, our great-grandchildren will have to build their houses on graveyards.”

    Prof Rena agreed that religions and belief systems have to be respected, but noted that in Japan, regardless of religion, 99% of the population was cremated.

    Elsewhere in the world this trend is also gaining traction. For example, cremation rates in the United States have increased from 3% in 1960 to about 60% today.

    Prof Ravinder Rena with Pepe Dass, the president of the South African Cemetery
    Association
    8Oct, 2019
    SA Cemeteries Association’s Pepe Dass says multiple-use graves or cremation are a challenge to traditional burial practices in SA

    There’s just not enough traditional burial space on the planet to cope with the burgeoning population worldwide, and in South Africa as well.

    South African Cemeteries Association chairperson Pepe Dass says with a population of 57 million, South African would require as many graves within 50 to 80 years.

    Speaking to Refilwe Moloto, Dass says traditionally people are used to owning a gravesite, one body in one grave.

    The issue is huge and we are running out of space very fast and the biggest cause or factor is population growth. We have seen a population explosion and it has basically taken the history of men kind.

    — Pepe Dass, Chairman – South African Cemeteries Association

    Over a period of time in lots of municipalities, there has been a tendency to bury a family member in a grave that has been used and that has the effect of bringing families together.

    — Pepe Dass, Chairman – South African Cemeteries Association

    He says burying more than one person in one grave or options such as cremation is a challenge to traditional burial practices in South Africa.

    However, education on alternatives is needed.

    What needs to happen is that the response to this challenge has to be the same way that we responded to other challenges like HIV.

    — Pepe Dass, Chairman – South African Cemeteries Association

    We need to have an active campaign informing people of the challenges and informing them of the alternatives.

    — Pepe Dass, Chairman – South African Cemeteries Association

    Listen to the full interview here…

    This article first appeared on CapeTalk : Alternative burial options to cope with population growth challenge tradition

    5Oct, 2019
    Major South African cities running out of burial land

    Cape Town – THE South African Cemeteries Association (Saca) claims municipalities and the government aren’t effectively communicating the lack of burial land.

    At the second PAN African Conference, it was said that the world’s population was more than seven billion.

    According to a press release by Saca, if burials were the only option then humans would require as many graves within 50 to 80 years.

    “The South African population is in excess of 57 million (and) is also growing exponentially and faces the same situation of having to find 57 million graves within 50 to 80 years,” the press release stated.

     

    Mayoral committee member for community services and health Zahid Badroodien said the city’s demand for cremation versus burial was 40:60.

    “The scarcity of burial space, steady increase in population and limited number of cemeteries receiving burials, have influenced a slight increase in demand for cremation,” said Badroodien.

    A new cemetery is under construction in Mfuleni, scheduled for completion by the end of 2020. Plans to extend Welmoed and Atlantis cemeteries are also under way, while applications for environmental approval of new cemeteries in Tafelsig, Vaalfontein and Rusthof are being pursued.

    “The city has a critical shortage of burial space as announced in the media over the years. To add to this, there is a huge demand for Saturday burials, with 64% of people wanting to have burials on a Saturday. Residents are encouraged to have burials take place during the week, in order to alleviate the traffic of burials taking place on a Saturday,” said Badroodien.

    Environmental laws for burial space and competing demands for land for housing affect burial space, he added.

    Capetonians are encouraged to reopen family graves to accommodate a second or third burial.

    “The city has seen an increase in these types of burials over the past few years, mausoleum burial… this type of burial is an above-ground building that coffins are enclosed in. Mausoleum burials can be reserved with the city and cremations, where cultural and religious beliefs do not prohibit this,” said Badroodien.

    Jenny Moodley, spokesperson for Johannesburg City Parks, said 29 of the 34 cemeteries in the city were at capacity.

    “We have developed two new cemeteries; even if there is a natural disaster we will have enough space. However, we are calling on communities to opt for other alternatives as dormant cemeteries lead to other issues such as opportunistic crime and neglected graveyards which increases running costs.”

    Louise Sinclair from the Durban Progressive Jewish Congregation said they were open to both cremation and burial, although “the method would be dependent on the family’s wishes”.

    “Historically, some Jewish people do not believe in cremation because of the Holocaust.”

    Ashwin Trikamji from Hindu Maha Sabha said: “(Cremation) is the most hygienic way and it is returning to the elements. Although some do choose to bury, we have called for more crematoriums to be built.”

    Islamic Burial Council chairperson Salim Kazi said Muslims: “It is what has been passed down. A person is created from dust, dust goes into dust and will become dust.”

    Minister Tony Potter from St Andrew’s Church in Pinelands said Christians were divided on the matter. “It depends on their racial-cultural beliefs. There is no biblical rule on whether to cremate or bury.”

    Reverend Yvonne Daki-Combi said things had changed among traditional African cultures. “Before we would only do burials because it is believed that for you to become an ancestor you must be in your body. However, now we are seeing a few families who are cremating.”

    “As South Africans, let us opt for practices when considering those that have passed, that sustain the environment and are viable financially and socially,” said Pepe Dass, chairperson of Saca.

    Source: iol.co.za