The land at the Magazulu Park in Empangeni, which they have to build the crematorium. Permission is required from the municipality to proceed.
Image: Supplied
FAMILIES in Richards Bay are facing significant emotional and financial challenges due to the absence of a local crematorium.
Businessman Prince Ishwar Ramlutchman Mabheka Zulu calls for urgent municipal action, warning of potential legal action if the situation does not improve.
Businessman and president of the Sivananda World Peace Foundation Mabheka Zulu, who has lived in Richards Bay for 34 years, said the absence of a cremation facility in the area had placed a heavy emotional and financial burden on families who had to travel long distances to cremate their loved ones.
“There is no crematorium in the area, so I decided to act and try to get one built. I felt it was very important as a Hindu to ensure our traditions are conducted properly by having such facilities. But this is not only a religious issue. People of all races use cremation facilities,” he said.
Currently, families in Richards Bay and surrounding areas must transport bodies to Stanger, Verulam or the Clare Estate crematoria.
According to Mabheka Zulu, the journey could range from 120km to 200 km, significantly increasing funeral costs for grieving families.
“The cost to move a body to Durban alone is about R26,000, excluding crematorium fees. Families often have to wait long hours before receiving the ashes of their loved ones.”
He added that the situation had sometimes led to tragic consequences.
“On several occasions, families have met with accidents while travelling to Durban to cremate their loved ones,” Mabheka Zulu said.
“In one incident, a family lost their child while following the hearse to Durban. A truck collided into them. This is really painful for our community.”
While cremation is traditionally associated with Hindu funeral rites, Mabheka Zulu stressed that demand for such a facility extended far beyond a single cultural group.
“There is a large population that uses cremation services, including organisations like the SPCA. All races are cremated today, and there is also a huge demand because there is no burial space.”
He believes the perception that cremation was only an “Indian tradition” had slowed progress on the crematorium to get the green light.
“Over the past two decades, we have been applying to the municipality. There seems to be no interest as they feel it is an Indian thing, but this is a service that benefits the entire community.”
According to Mabheka Zulu, efforts to establish a crematorium in Richards Bay dated back more than 20 years.
“We had three council resolutions and several meetings with the municipality, but there has been no concrete feedback to date. We have been promised the facility for several years now. Numerous communications have been made with authorities over the years, but they do not care.”
He added that the Sivananda World Peace Foundation possessed council resolutions dating back to 2005 approving aspects of the project.
“The council had approved our projects and given resolutions. But these resolutions have been disregarded and not implemented for years. Even the late Zulu king backed us, but it still did not help. It is very disheartening.”
Mabheka Zulu says he had long been involved in developing cremation infrastructure in the province.
“I was instrumental in the Sivananda Ghat project under His Holiness Sri Swami Sahajananda when it was built, serving as a member of the board,” he said.
He also contributed to improvements at the Clare Estate crematorium.
“I erected the Sivananda Peace Pillar in 2010 at the Clare Estate crematorium, and also funded and built a bidet wall for the facility. These projects were done to ensure dignity and respect for families performing their final rites.”
Mabheka Zulu insists funding is not an obstacle to building the Richards Bay crematorium.
“The Sivananda World Peace Foundation will get it done. I have had bricks for the building for the last 12 years. We even have money for one furnace. Once we are running, we can get another.”
The only requirement, he said, was municipal approval.
“We have land to build it. Permission is required from the municipality to proceed. We requested land from the municipality which they initially agreed to. We even said we had our own land. But the municipality has not committed to giving us the land,” he said.
Frustrated by the lack of progress, Mabheka Zulu recently escalated the issue to provincial and national leaders, including Thami Ntuli, Velenkosini Hlabisa, and the provincial Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
“I have publicly raised the issue with the premier of KwaZulu-Natal, MEC for Cogta Rev Thulasizwe, and national Minister of Cogta, Velenkosini Hlabisa.”
He said municipal authorities continued to cite administrative procedures.
“They keep saying they have processes to follow and environmental impact assessments, but nothing concrete has happened.”
Mabheka Zulu also accused the uMhlathuze Local Municipality of failing to respond to correspondence.
“The municipality has only given us false promises. Nothing to date has even been acknowledged in response to our written emails.”
If the matter continues to stall, Mabheka Zulu said the community may resort to protest action or legal steps.
“We have been patient enough and can no longer keep awaiting the municipality to finalise this issue. Should they not respond, we will protest and call for higher authorities to intervene.”
He also suggested the issue might involve constitutional rights.
“We will go to court if necessary because this is our basic human right. We will also engage the Human Rights Commission.”
Despite the delays, he remains hopeful that the project will eventually become a reality.
“I believe that Richards Bay will eventually get its own crematorium. Before my last breath, I hope I can get this done for my community.”
He concluded with a direct appeal to municipal leadership.
“I humbly request an urgent meeting to fast-track the site handover of the heritage monument and the building of a crematorium in Richards Bay. This issue is now becoming a major problem, as lives are being lost on the roads, and families are suffering from the high costs of travelling to Durban,” said Mabheka Zulu.