Ekurhuleni discourages reselling of reserved burial sites

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

The City of Ekurhuleni has reiterated that graves can only be purchased from the city as and when required for immediate use. 

“The City of Ekurhuleni would like to dispel the misconception that reservation of a grave confers ownership of such a burial site and entitles the burial site applicant to sell that right of use to a third party.

“Reservation of a grave does not confer any form of ownership over a grave. It only gives a right to bury a loved one in the grave. Graves can only be purchased from the City as and when required for immediate use,” the City said on Wednesday. 

It however said that a person who has reserved a grave, may cancel the reservation of the grave and get a refund, while the city will reallocate the same to others in need. 

The reservation of graves is governed through the cemeteries and crematorium by-laws.

“In the event where the person who has reserved a grave is late, the family or heirs may relinquish the right to use the unused grave - back to the City. 

“According to the City’s by-laws on cemeteries and crematoriums, the transferring of rights in respect of existing reserved graves or selling of a reserved unused grave is prohibited.

“However, the City may revoke a reservation on application by the person who has reserved it and refund the interment fee applicable at the time of the application,” the City said. 

Applications for rescinding of a reservation can be submitted to the cemetery officer where the grave concerned is located for further processing. 

If the applicant for a reserved grave is late, a person intending to get a refund for a reserved grave has to bring an affidavit indicating that s/he can transact on behalf of the other family members or heirs. 

The affidavit has to also state that the concerned family members or heirs are entitled to receive the proceeds from the reserved grave. This affidavit has to be submitted together with the application to cemetery office at the cemetery where the unused grave is. 

The cemeteries and crematorium by-laws is available on the City’s website: www.ekurhuleni.gov.za. – SAnews.gov.za