Community leaders call for transparency amid crematorium tariff increases

COMMUNITY leaders, religious organisations, and the funeral industry have called for transparency and accountability from the Clare Estate Umgeni Hindu Crematorium Society following allegations of excessive fee increases and financial mismanagement.

Clive Moodley, deputy president of the Progressive Funeral Practitioners Association of South Africa, said the tariff hike was of concern. 

“Why is a non-profit organisation charging more than other facilities, some of which are privately-owned. For example, Stellawood Crematorium charges R2 300. The Clare Estate Crematorium, with the expected increase, will be R720 more. The impact of this price difference impacts people who want to give their deceased loved ones a proper farewell. There needs to be transparency.”

Neeran Besesar, secretary of the South African Hindu Maha Sabha (SAHMS), said: “The recent wave of vicious, defamatory social media attacks against the society was both unacceptable and unlawful. The society has served the community with a critical and compassionate facility for more than a century.

“We are confident that the society will release the necessary information and documentation to the public in terms of its constitution. This disclosure should reaffirm its commitment to good governance, help to dispel misinformation and silence those who seek to undermine confidence in the institution,” he said. 

However, Besesar said the SAHMS appealed for the inclusion of special provisions for indigent families.

Dr Rajendran Govender, a commissioner for the Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Rights Commission, said: “Matters affecting religious and cultural services are understandably sensitive and require transparency, accountability, and constructive engagement with the affected communities.”

Govender said following the publication of the new rules and regulations last year, an attempt was made to convene a meeting with relevant stakeholders so that issues of concern could be discussed.

“But this engagement unfortunately did not materialise. It would therefore be advisable that a properly convened stakeholder or community meeting now take place, where the board, community representatives, and relevant oversight authorities can engage openly, clarify the issues raised, and collectively determine an appropriate way forward.”

Shameen Thakur -Rajbansi, leader of the Minority Front, said the allegations were serious as the crematorium had the humblest of beginnings.

“The crematorium was a community inspired undertaking with its focus to provide cremation facilities to the large Kwazulu-Natal community of Indian descent. As a registered non-profit organisation it has evolved into a premier crematorium in the greater Durban community.

“The Morai family from Clare Estate used their land to do pyre funerals in the early days, and thereafter the City council was given the property and another indentured family donated monies to erect the halls and infrastructure.

“Over many years, the trustees and board of the crematorium were imbued with a community focus. However, in recent years, the board became imbued with a  ‘know it all’ attitude, and have not allowed public participation to enable the smooth running of the crematorium. Hence, pursuant to the ethos of the South African Constitution,  a public participatory process should be undertaken, to seek consensus as to how the crematorium should be administered,” she said. 

Thakur-Rajbansi added that the fees should be regulated under categories in line with those used by the government.

“There must also be an undertaking  to hold a community stakeholder meeting for inputs so that the monies are properly used to meet various needs during funerals.” 

Praneal Singh, secretary-general of the Hindu Unity Forum of South Africa, and its division, the Hindu Funeral Forum, said: “The claims raised about increased fees, profitability, lack of transparency, and alleged illegal operations merit a cautious and thorough review.”

Singh said any policies that appeared exclusionary or financially exploitative must be scrutinised and reviewed with community input to ensure fairness and dignity for all users.

He added it was prudent to consider a temporary halt on price increases until an investigation was completed.

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