Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 29-10-2017
Lenasia residents have expressed outrage and condemnation by the city of Johannesburg to cancel cremations on weekends at the Avalon Crematorium.
In a statement, the city’s Reggie Moloi says the weekend cremations are in violation of the city’s by-laws and therefore would be discontinued.
Moloi says cremations may only take place on weekdays from 9am to 2pm.
He says if there is an emergency with residents requiring cremation after the prescribed weekend times, they must submit a formal application and a prescribed fee before the service can be conducted.
A number of people have vented their anger on social media including Facebook.
Lenasia Ward Councillor Kishore Badal says the by-law is decades old and was waived about 35 years ago.
Badal says the decision by the city of Joburg is unacceptable and he has engaged authorities on the matter including the MMC for community development Nonhlanhla Sifumba to address the issue.
“The situation is totally unacceptable after years of having it in place. Why is it now suddenly raised and there was no public consultation and why aren’t the religious beliefs of Hindus in particular and Lenasians not taken into consideration as we are the main stakeholders in that particular crematorium?”
The Hindu Coordinating Committee and the Gandhi Walk committee says the decision by the City of Joburg is a gross violation of their constitutional rights.
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