Burial space crisis: families forced to abandon sacred traditions

EMOTIONAL TOLL

- MONISHKA GOVENDER [e-mail]

LOCAL cemeteries are rapidly running out of space, forcing families to abandon sacred burial traditions.

The SA Funeral Parlour Association (Safpa) warned this crisis would only worsen without immediate intervention.

Nomfundo Mcoyi, president of Safpa and CEO of Icebolethu Group, said burial was a sacred tradition for many communities.

“We need to explore dignified alternatives such as cremation and green burials while working together to find sustainable solutions. We cannot afford to wait until families are turned away from cemeteries. The dignity of our final farewells must be preserved, even as our cities grow,” she said.

“For many families, burial is not merely a ritual, it is a sacred duty that connects the living with their ancestors. Cremation, though efficient, remains emotionally distant and culturally unfamiliar,” she added.

Dhayalan Moodley, of Moodley’s Funeral Services, said the shortage of graves was driven by several factors.

“We have observed a significant shortage of burial plots in all major cities, which is indeed a growing concern. The rapid urbanisation, population growth and influx of migrants have put immense pressure on existing cemeteries, leading to severe space constraints. As more people move to urban areas, the demand for burial plots increases, straining the limited resources.

“This shortage has led to challenging situations such as the reuse of graves.

“Because of deep-rooted cultural beliefs, people prefer traditional burial over cremation. Sadly, municipalities did not plan for the future,” said Moodley

He said the shortage was transforming the funeral industry and shifting cultural norms.