Losing a loved one is very painful. Families grieve and are allowed that space. Death has been there ever since God created the the universe. It is guaranteed for every human and other living organs. The ancient practice reminds us that there is no dignity in death irrespective of the price of a coffin and who attended the funeral. We all either get buried 6ft or burned. Either way, the body is no use and its disposed. The quicker the body is disposed, the better. All tribes used to bury the body the same day the person died. Reason for this practice was to avoid potential infecting other people in case the cause of death is deadly air born disease.
This practice changed with the arrival of cold storage. Now, the body can be kept for longer while waiting for relatives and preparations of a funeral which is unnecessary. To most black families, this has become a marathon of who is buried with the most expensive coffin than the other. And whose funeral was well attended than the other.
The problem with the above is that families have been classed. Diseases easily get spread. Poor families are forced to spend their last savings. While stuck with this family self inflicted problems, the government has to deploy its staff to control movement of cars. In other situations like in big townships, people even fight amongst themselves for roads and even for alcohol/food.
By-laws that regulate this had to be developed. The number of people who have to attend the funeral as well as movement of dead body from house to graveyard and or from mortuary to graveyard. Time spent at the graveyard and that's it. Normally, it will be an hour to 2 hours. Not more than that. No need to spend on food.
The interest of government on this arrangement is that reduce a risk of spreading disease, avoid potential human conflict especially on the road and after tears parties, and surely, the government has an interest of seeing its civilians going back to work instead of hanging with the family drinking and sometimes partying.
From now on, those living outside provinces where burial will take place, they will have to get the permit to attend funerals. It will be family affairs. A death certificate will be needed. If the cause of death is dangerous disease, you may be denied a permit. There will be no after party and provision of bulk food unless the permit is granted to the family. In the past, there are several food poisoning cases and that is not in the interest of government.
This is how all of us used to live. Just across in Mozambique, they still keep it simple. In South Africa, Muslim dispose the body same day. Whites will leave the office at 12H00 and by 14H00 they are back at work. I couldn't believe my observation when one white executive to that for his mother.
Black South Africans modified burial methods until it has become a hazard for them and the society at large. COVID 19 is here to fix that nonsense. So live with it, we are back to normal. You will not see a need to buy expensive coffin to impress friends because people will not be there to see it. Lets support the government. Tey must never relax this by-law because it is for our own good. With my body, I have already instructed Makome Kingdom to burn it.
Advised by Prof. Covid Corona Virus, PhD in Universal Law, Wuhan University, Hebei University, China. Specialist in Trade, Environmental, Civil, Criminal and Humanitarian Laws as well as public order management.
Assisted by Prof Change "The Great" Mathebula. The Farmer, Golfer and guardian father of Makome Kingdom.
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