GRAVE CONCERN: SOUTH AFRICAN UNDERTAKERS & BURIAL STAFF FACE DEATH, STRESS AMID PANDEMIC

 

GRAVE CONCERN: SOUTH AFRICAN UNDERTAKERS & BURIAL STAFF FACE DEATH, STRESS AMID PANDEMIC

The National Funeral Practitioners Association of South Africa's Muzi Hlengwa said the surge in burials meant workers were being exposed to COVID-19 more frequently

JOHANNESBURG - The National Funeral Practitioners Association of South Africa on Friday said an alarming number of undertakers and burial staff were losing their lives to the coronavirus.

Funeral parlour owners said they were under immense pressure and were battling to cope with the high number of burials they have had to perform, with hundreds of people dying from the virus every day.

The association's Muzi Hlengwa said the surge in burials meant workers were being exposed to COVID-19 more frequently.

He said the industry was also battling to keep up with the high demand for coffins as the death toll continued its grim climb.

Hlengwa pleaded with South Africans to take the necessary precautions to stay healthy.

“The major problem is us running out of coffins and yesterday, we were looking at 47 coffins, but we could only manage 20, which means the other 27 will have to wait until coffins are available.”

https://ewn.co.za/2021/01/08/grave-concern-sa-undertakers-and-burial-staff-face-death-and-stress-amid-pandemic