Cape Town - The Funeral Industry Reformed Association has raised health concerns over the newly renovated Maitland Crematorium.
Located in the heart of the Maitland Cemetery, the crematorium recently underwent an R18 million upgrade, with brand new features including a state-of-the-art supervisory control and data acquisition electronic logging system. This system facilitates meticulous monitoring of crucial data such as temperature, gas usage, coffin type and cremation durations.
The Funeral Industry Reformed Association describes the crematorium as one of the better crematoriums in South Africa when it comes its use of technology. The Maitland Crematorium serves communities from as far as Springbok. However, association founder and chairperson, Johan Rousseau, alleged the facility doesn’t comply with health standards when it comes to handling human remains.
“The zoning of most crematorium(s) in SA including that of Maitland is incorrect in terms of the NEMA Act (National Environmental Management Act) in terms of the 500m radius from the residential and business area,” he said. According to the Act, a crematorium must be located at least 500m from any habitable dwelling.
Rousseau said municipal crematoriums often request a relaxation of the 500m radius. He said pollution and emissions could still affect people living and working within the 500m radius.
“In our opinion, given the fact that parlour(s) are requested to fulfil that responsibility, similar laws that are applicable to government morgues and parlours should be enforced onto all the crematoriums.”
Mayco member for community services and health, Patricia van der Ross, said the relaxation of the 500m radius was not requested as Maitland Crematorium was already an established crematorium.
“The Maitland Crematorium Chapel dates back to 1934 and was an established facility prior to the NEMA 2006 regulations coming into effect, when crematoriums became a listed activity,” she said.
Van der Ross further clarified that crematoriums received the deceased in a sealed coffin, so they do not “handle human remains” as mortuaries did.
Cremations at the Maitland Crematorium take place 24 hours a day, five days a week. There is also no backlog but spikes are recorded now and then as the cremators run on alternative use.
Meanwhile, Rousseau called on the private sector to invest in the crematorium business.
He said it would be difficult in terms of licensing requirements, but they were the only organisation that had been involved in contributing to setting new standards and guidelines.
Chairperson of the Funeral Practitioners Association of South Africa, Raglan Isaacs, said they would support the private sector’s involvement.
“That will give clients. Private sector should not manipulate cost, it should still be somehow regulated," Isaacs said.
Van der Ross added that the City is presently managing the existing demand for cremation services.
“The City is coping with the current demand for cremations,” she said.
Cape Argus