LOAD shedding is problematic for funeral parlours and they want it to end.
They are struggling to keep corpses in good condition and turned to generators, but fuel to power the generators is costly.
So they’re pleading with government to intervene so their businesses don’t suffer further.
Nhlanhla Bembe, chairman of Southern African Chambers of Undertakers, said as a result of high petrol prices, they have to increase burial costs.
“We demand the government to stop this load shedding or reduce the price of fuel. Clients are complaining as its expensive to store human remains,” he said.
Muzi Magubane from Magubane Funerals said load shedding has affected them negatively. “We can’t process claims and invoices for our clients as everything we do has to be doubled or tripled checked and that alone is tiring,” said Magubane.
Furthermore, generators do not generate enough power to keep the bodies cold enough.
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“We pay at least R70 a day for fuel and it’s very expensive.
“These are some of the issues we will be discussing at our indaba in November to make sure our government comes to the party.”
Bongi Matobako, the owner of Kutluano Funerals, said: “We rely on electricity 110%. Some days, we are without electricity for 12 hours and have power for only four hours. Just imagine the stress we go through as we have bodies in the cold rooms.”
She said it’s difficult to explain to clients when their prices go up. Matobako added that they would like government to install solar panels in all private mortuaries.
