The Muslim Judicial Council has slammed a proposal by the City of Cape Town to increase burial tariffs for after-hour janaazahs by R500, saying it will impact the customary 48-hour period for Muslim burials.
MJC Deputy President Sheikh Riad Fataar said on Monday Cape Muslims have just one day left to raise their concerns with the municipality, as the deadline for comments is tomorrow.
The tariff will apply to burials after 4pm on weekdays and after 1pm on weekends and public holidays.
A post circulating on social media about the new tariff last week claimed the MJC was in agreement with the City, but Fataar says this is not true.
He says the MJC was called to a meeting with Parks and Forests Department officials on 26 February where they were informed of the City’s intentions and immediately raised their concerns.
“From what we understand, they want to charge this levy to make up for the overtime that municipal graveyard workers need to be paid,” Fataar explains.
“The MJC has various concerns, among this are the time delay to get bodies from the mortuary and with the customary 48-hour period after a death, many burials are held after 4pm.
“We fear this may result in many Muslims being buried outside the 48-hour period as a result of people not being able to afford the additional R500.”
He says with poverty being rife on the Cape Flats and the large Muslim population in the city, the officials should have found a way to absorb these additional costs as the City is now infringing upon people’s constitutional right to practise their religion.
“This is a requirement of our religion, so this places us in a difficult position,” the holy man says.
“We call on the community to help us in objecting and call on councillors to not vote in favour of the new tariff.”
Mayco member for Community Services Zahid Badroodien says the levy of R500 must still be approved.
He says the department is putting forward a report with recommendations based on operating costs to the Portfolio Committee.
He confirmed the deadline for comment is 4 March, but would not confirm when the public participation process commenced.
“Late burials result in additional costs incurred by the City for staff who need to be on standby to provide access to the cemetery, make arrangements for preparation of the grave and then close the cemetery after the burial,” said Badroodien.
“The City has been in engagement with the Muslim Judicial Council and the
Jewish Cemetery Board, who are both directly affected by the proposed levy, as their religions require same-day burials for the deceased.
CUSTOMS: Muslim janaazahs. Picture: Supplied
“The tariff would be applicable to all persons who request access to the cemetery after hours for burial, irrespective of their religious denomination.
“The tariffs must still be approved by Council. This allows time for the public to comment even after the PC meeting this Wednesday.”