From just more than 300 burials weekly towards the end of June, the number of burials in Cape Town has risen to 483 in the past week.
Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health Councillor Zahid Badroodien said: “The increase in burials underscores the increase in Covid-19 infections and fatalities since the start of the third wave. For the moment, our cemeteries are able to cope with the increased demand, but we renew our appeal to residents to please consider burials on weekdays and where possible, to consider alternatives to burial.”
Klip Road cemetery in Grassy Park is the busiest which had 151 burials last week, followed by Maitland Cemetery with 126 and Welmoed Cemetery with 76 burials.
In a statement the City added: “The Maitland crematorium facilitated 89 cremations, and 48 cremations were transferred to the private crematorium in Durbanville, as one of the cremators at Maitland is closed for maintenance.”
Badroodien added: “We also ask that funeral organisers be mindful of the current regulations in terms of the number of attendees and time allowed at the cemetery. In recent weeks, the City’s Environmental Health Practitioners have expressed concern about the non-adherence to regulations at funerals. This third wave is proving to be devastating, and while we realise how difficult it is to manage funerals in the times we are living in, I appeal to the public to please keep personal safety and the health protocols top of mind at all times.”
Cemetery visits are also still not allowed and neither is unveiling ceremonies allowed.