Latest news with #Contralesa
Eyewitness News
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Traditional leaders praise work done by David Mabuza
BARBERTON - Traditional leaders have joined mourners in Barberton, Mpumalanga, to pay tribute to former deputy president David Mabuza, praising his support for customary institutions during his political career. The Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (CONTRALESA) is among those visiting Mabuza's home today to console his grieving family following his death on Thursday. Contralesa says that as Premier of Mpumalanga, Mabuza ensured traditional leaders were consulted on important government programmes and supported their development. Contralesa President Kgoshi Mathupa Mokoena says Mabuza's leadership and respect for traditional authorities were remarkable 'For the first time, some of us were able to have cattle, tractors and traditional offices. It's not surprising when Amakhosi are here in their large numbers from the three districts, who came here after hearing that the giant has fallen.'
The Citizen
27-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Are lay-by graves un-African? Cultural clash over burial solution
For residents considering lay-by grave services, existing consumer protection laws provide important safeguards. As Johannesburg grapples with a shortage of burial space, a new industry offering lay-by grave services has emerged – but cultural leaders are asking whether this modern solution fundamentally contradicts African traditions and values. The City of Johannesburg faces an escalating burial space crisis, with several cemeteries approaching or reaching full capacity despite earlier projections of adequate space for decades. This shortage, driven by population growth, urban migration, and cultural resistance to cremation, has forced the city to actively promote alternative burial methods, including cremation and reburials. In this gap, companies like Calgro M3 Memorial Parks, have stepped in. It offers what it calls 'dignified funerals and easy to afford burials' through lay-by monthly payment plans ranging from R500 to R1 625. The company operates cemeteries across Bloemfontein, Fourways, Nasrec, Durbanville, and Enokuthula Springs, with plans for a Randburg facility. When The Citizen attempted to contact Calgro M3 for comment, the company engaged in a week-long series of evasive responses, delaying any meaningful communication before stating on Thursday that their designated spokesperson was unavailable, with no timeline for a response. ALSO READ: Westpark Cemetery limits burials as it is set to reach capacity in four months The grave cultural resistance But the concept of purchasing burial services in advance has sparked fierce opposition from traditional leaders who question whether such practices align with African cultural values. Chief Mathupha Mokoena, President of Contralesa, has been particularly vocal in his criticism. 'Contralesa is aware of strange things that are contrary to our usual practices that relate to how we conduct funerals in our country, South Africa,' Mokoena stated. 'The question of memorial parks, including pre-paid burial sites, is foreign in our culture.' Mokoena argues that these services represent a fundamental departure from traditional practices, suggesting they transform burial customs into commercial enterprises. He contends that paying for burial arrangements in advance violates core African cultural principles. 'Paying for burial rites in advance, even buying a coffin in advance, is totally against our cultural norms and practice as Africans,' he explained. 'By doing this, we are directly inviting bad luck and curses that might follow those who are remaining behind.' The traditional leader warns that such practices could have severe spiritual consequences for families, describing potential 'strange things' that 'cannot be healed and will cause pain to members of the family.' His organisation has called upon communities to resist what they view as foreign influences on traditional burial practices. ALSO READ: Damaged graves: JPCZ urges residents to check resting places of loved ones Expert analysis on lay-by graves' cultural impact Cultural expert Isaac Muthethwa offers additional perspective on why these modern burial arrangements conflict with traditional African customs. However, he also states that such practices are not significantly different from paying for funeral cover, Muthethwa says Africans are not even supposed to be using coffins because of the belief that the body must go back to the soil. He explains that the practice of preparing graves in advance goes against fundamental beliefs about death and the afterlife. His concern extends beyond the spiritual realm to practical family dynamics. Muthethwa argues that investing in death-related expenses while alive diverts resources from living family members who might need support for education, healthcare, or other essential needs. He observes a troubling shift in community priorities, where people plan extensively for death while neglecting to celebrate life's milestones. 'When people are buying cars cash, you are bringing your best respected funeral cover so that everybody can see that 'this is how you buried your mom', but the following day the family is hungry because the money was meant for the burial and not for living,' he explained. City's regulatory framework Despite the cultural controversy, the City of Johannesburg recognises memorial parks as legitimate businesses operating within established regulatory frameworks. Jenny Moodley, spokesperson for Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, confirms that private cemeteries must comply with municipal bylaws and national environmental regulations. 'Memorial parks that operate as private cemeteries within the City of Johannesburg are recognised and are required to comply with all applicable municipal bylaws and national regulations,' Moodley stated. The city requires proper zoning and adherence to health, environmental, and town planning regulations. Regarding Calgro M3 specifically, Moodley notes that the company has received necessary approvals and currently faces no formal complaints. 'The City is aware of Calgro M3 Memorial Parks as one of the private operators currently offering memorial park services within Johannesburg,' she confirmed. Officials emphasise that while these services are legal, consumers should conduct thorough research before committing to pre-paid burial arrangements. ALSO READ: Cemetery crisis: Burial space is shrinking Consumer protections and rights For residents considering these services, existing consumer protection laws provide important safeguards. The Consumer Protection Act ensures that lay-by payments remain the consumer's property until full payment is completed, with specific provisions for refunds and compensation if services cannot be delivered. Companies must maintain payment security and provide either equivalent alternatives or financial compensation if burial services become unavailable. In cases where unavailability results from supplier fault, consumers are entitled to double compensation. For residents considering pre-paid burial services, city officials recommend thorough research and due diligence. Moodley advised consumers to 'verify that the memorial park is legally zoned as a cemetery, compliant with City bylaws, and that the service provider is registered and transparent about its terms and conditions.' Under Section 62 of the Act, retailers must safeguard both consumer payments and reserved goods with appropriate care and diligence. If goods become unavailable, companies must offer consumers equivalent or superior alternatives or provide refunds with interest. In cases where unavailability results from the supplier's fault, consumers are entitled to double their payment amount as compensation. ALSO READ: Do you purchase goods on lay-by? These are your rights as a consumer A question of cultural evolution The debate over lay-by graves raises broader questions about cultural adaptation in modern urban environments. While practical pressures demand innovative solutions to genuine infrastructure challenges, the strong opposition from cultural leaders highlights the complex relationship between tradition and necessity. Some might argue that urban realities require pragmatic approaches to age-old challenges, while others contend that certain cultural principles should remain inviolate regardless of practical pressures. The question remains: can traditional burial practices evolve to meet contemporary urban needs while maintaining their essential cultural and spiritual significance? As Johannesburg continues to wrestle with its burial space crisis, the tension between modern solutions and traditional values reflects a broader challenge facing rapidly urbanising African communities. Muthethwa says whether lay-by graves represent a necessary adaptation or an unwelcome departure from cultural norms may ultimately depend on how communities themselves choose to balance practical needs with cultural preservation. READ NEXT: Criminals vandalise cemetery in search of valuables
The Citizen
29-05-2025
- The Citizen
Traditional leaders warn initiation schools to toe the line
Contralesa warns unregistered initiation schools that abuse and extort money from families will not be tolerated. The Congress of Traditional Leaders (Contralesa) urges initiation school owners to respect the law to avoid unnecessary deaths. Chief Mathupa Mokoena, president of Contralesa, who is also a senior member of the Mpumalanga House of Traditional Leaders, was commenting after several illegal schools were closed in Mpumalanga. Recently, the police, officials from the Mpumalanga House of Traditional Leaders and the Mpumalanga department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs shut down bogus schools and rescued initiates, who were then taken to legitimate schools. Boys rescued from bogus initiation schools Mokoena said the authorities were alerted by concerned community members, and monitoring teams were sent to investigate. He said the illegal schools' owners 'kidnapped' teenagers and later demanded money from the parents. ALSO READ: Gauteng man arrested for illegal initiation school and taking in children They also initiated underage children. 'We have closed many bogus schools in the province. 'Some owners released the children and ran away when hearing that our team was coming. Underage children initiated 'We know that there are criminals hired to kidnap children and take them to the mountains, especially to the illegal schools. 'They are charging per child, which means the more they kidnap children the more money they make. ALSO READ: Boy runs away to join initiation school, family given list of items to secure his return 'This year we want to deal with that and other related issues. 'Addressing the issues of illegal schools is one of the ways of addressing the kidnapping of children,' said Mokoena. 'Initiation seasons have started throughout the country and we want to make sure that we curb the kidnapping incidents and other things that may lead to unnecessary deaths and the abuse of initiates.' Kidnapping of children Mokoena reiterated that only those who have permits issued by their respective traditional leaders, the provincial house or the municipality, where there are no traditional leaders, are allowed to run these schools. He did not divulge how many initiates had been rescued so far from bogus schools. ALSO READ: Initiation schools: Commission wants answers on why recommendations haven't been carried out The leader said the closure of the schools served as a warning to those planning to commit the same crime. He also warned parents to be cautious and not to take their children to unregistered schools. 'When you get there, the first thing is for the principal of the school to show you the permits. Parent, don't take your children to unregistered schools 'And check whether the stamp is a recent one because there are people who like taking chances, who might even use old permits to run those schools.' Anyone found to have disobeyed the Customary Initiation Act would be sent straight to jail, he said. ALSO READ: Restoring tradition without reinforcing harmful patriarchy He also urged people not to admit underage children to their schools. 'One other issue that I want to caution the owners of the school on is that they should not assault the initiates or treat them as if they are in the army. 'Another issue to caution the Ingoma holders about is the price that they are charging our people. Ingoma is not a money-making scheme 'Ingoma is not a money-making scheme. Therefore, those prices will be monitored. 'If we discover that you are charging exorbitant amounts, you will regret it because we will simply tell the parents not to pay.' NOW READ: 23 arrests made after Eastern Cape initiation school deaths as Hlabisa considers suspension
