Kumar Covenden, the owner of Umhlanga Funeral Services, said he was shocked at the allegations, because he had given Tansen Nepaul a “no cost” invoice the day after his wife’s funeral.
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SOON after the death of well-known Durban music teacher Umita Kalyan, a message was shared on social media titled "selective outrage or deliberate misdirection", which claimed an Umhlanga funeral parlour had charged the Nepaul family R70 000 to conduct Kalyan’s funeral.
The message read that “individuals had attempted to inflame public sentiment against the cremation tariff adjustment of R300” at the Clare Estate Crematorium, but that the same voices were silent on the exorbitant fees charged by funeral services.
It further read that Kalyan’s family could not afford the cost of her funeral and the “community had to step in and raise the funds”.
However, it emerged this week that Kalyan’s funeral was conducted by Umhlanga Funeral Services free of charge.
Kumar Covenden, the owner of Umhlanga Funeral Services, said he was shocked at the allegations, because he had given Tansen Nepaul a “no cost” invoice the day after his wife’s funeral.
A message was shared on social media titled "selective outrage or deliberate misdirection", which claimed an Umhlanga funeral parlour had charged the Nepaul family R70,000 to conduct Umita Kalyan’s funeral.
Image: Screenshot
“No such figure was quoted. Tansen approached me to engage my services on the morning of Umita’s passing. They did not have a funeral policy with us. I told him that we will take care of the funeral.
“Umita’s funeral was held on Saturday. Tansen asked me for an invoice on Sunday. On Tuesday, I sent him an invoice indicating that there was no charge.
“The family only paid the crematorium fee, for hire of the hall, the medical referee fees, and the decor. This amounted to R9,100. I sent him an invoice for the disbursements of R9,100.
“This amount was nothing close to R70,000. I am the only undertaker in Umhlanga. The funeral cost me money, as we provided labour, fuel and the hire of the cars.
“I am disappointed as my funeral parlour was slandered for charging R70,000 for the funeral, even though I had good intentions and covered it at no cost,” he said.
Covenden said he believed that “dirty games and mischief-making" were at play to discredit him and his business.
“Competitors are having a field day circulating the fake messages,” he added.
Nepaul said it was unfortunate that in the midst of his tragedy and loss, people were disregarding them and spreading misinformation through social media.
“It came to our attention that someone had started a communication which stated the cost of the funeral for my beloved wife. I want to categorically state that because of the very personal relationship that Kumar of Umhlanga Funeral Services and I share.
“Kumar, through the goodness of his heart, had done the entire funeral free of charge. It is seriously mischief-making that someone had the indiscretion of creating such misinformation at this tragic time in my life,” Nepaul added.