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Cemeteries Conference 2004

Cemeteries Conference 2004. Report Backs. What is our Core Business. Core business To provide land for burials To provide grave sites To perform cremations To administer cemeteries Enforce by-laws and regulations Non-core Maintenance and grave digging. Cemeteries - An Essential Service?.

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Cemeteries Conference 2004

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  1. Cemeteries Conference 2004 Report Backs

  2. What is our Core Business Core business • To provide land for burials • To provide grave sites • To perform cremations • To administer cemeteries • Enforce by-laws and regulations Non-core • Maintenance and grave digging

  3. Cemeteries - An Essential Service? Limitations on right to strike Essential services • Burying • Cremation Non-essential services • Maintenance • Administration, important but not essential

  4. Outsourcing Functions Can be outsourced: • Some cemeteries can be completely outsourced eg Islamic • Maintenance • Digging Do not outsource: • Administration • Records

  5. Do we need more research? • Yes, Yes, Yes • Cemetery usage patterns • Cultural and ethnic needs • National Research Team to co-ordinate

  6. National Co-ordination and Standardisdation • To equalise service delivery throughout RSA • To provide guidance on appropriate by-laws • To provide standardised minimum requirements • But – to recognise cultural and ethnic diversity • But – to recognise that regions are unique

  7. Performance indicators and measures Cemetery performance indicators: • Management and Financial • Customer Satisfaction • Aesthetics – appearance and neatness • Strategic planning and IDP linkage • Accessibility and Security

  8. Electronic Systems Do we need them? • A big YES • Booking systems • Reporting systems • Archival and Record Keeping Systems • Community Information Systems • Financial Management and Payment Systems

  9. Areas of productivity and efficiency • Maintenance is often poor • Administration is poor • Security is often poor • Improve through outsourcing, community participation and involvement, better planning

  10. How to calculate staffing levels Based on: • Cemetery size and usage • Soil type • Productivity and service standards • Norms for an area

  11. Improvement of space through design • Reduce space in roads, paths, planting, landscaping • Use narrower graves and coffins • Bury children separately • Use berms and vertical burials • No parking areas inside cemeteries

  12. How close is close enough? • Larger cemeteries are more affordable • Distance within 12km • But – not so many as it adds costs • But – must consult with local communities

  13. Subsidising Cemetery Tariffs • YES! • National Policy is needed • Selection Criteria for indigent are needed • Discount for weekday burials • Source some private sector funding

  14. Should municipalities work to reduce expensive funeral costs • Politicians, ward committees, amaKhosi to play educational role • Discount for weekday funerals • Tariffs are actually minor part of cost • Could require simpler biodegradable caskets • People need information on alternatives – like DIY funerals • Possible regulation of funeral undertaking by national government

  15. Paying for Pauper Burials • Pauper burials seem to be a Social Welfare function • Province or National should subsidise the service • Local Government will perform the burials

  16. DNA and Fingerprints of Deceased • DNA sampling of every deceased is too expensive • Fingerprinting as part of death certificate process by hospitals, mortuary is advised

  17. Cremation of Unclaimed Bodies • Subject to legal controls • Need to wait for family to come forward before disposal • Need national co-ordinated policy and legal framework

  18. Key Cultural Issues in Grave Recycling • Need more research on social impact • Community awareness campaign • Different cultural beliefs • Ancestral value must be stressed • Lower tariffs for recycling graves • Promote family plots • Unknown graves can be recycled • Implement recycling only in new cemetery blocks • Set recycling timeframes

  19. Dealing with Memorials on Recycled Graves • Limit memorials to plaques that can be relocated • Family may take memorial home • Unclaimed memorials to be recycled by masons

  20. Should we consider disinterment and separate bone storage • Not acceptable to all cultures • Possible to change culture through education • Spiritual leaders are key • Urban areas only need this measure • Decomposition specialist must be involved

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