Hard-hit municipalities brace for more deaths - The Mail & Guardian

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South Africa’s Covid-19-related deaths have been comparatively lower than the rest of the world. But municipalities are preparing for the worst

shocked the nation last week. It turned out that the figure of 1.5-million graves referred to the province’s total burial capacity and was not an indication, as many first assumed, of an expected surge in Covid-19-related deaths.survey of five of the worst-hit municipalities — the City of Cape Town, the City of Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, Buffalo City and the City of Tshwane — found that all are knuckling down to prepare for more deaths.query.

A statement by Masuku’s department noted: “We understand the subject of death is an uncomfortable matter to engage in. However, ensuring that there is adequate burial space in the province, unfortunately, forms part of the reality government must contend with in the battle against Covid-19.” Between May 6 and July 7, there was an excess of 10 994 deaths from natural causes. Data shows that the estimated excess natural deaths were in the City of Cape Town , the City of Johannesburg , Ekurhuleni , Nelson Mandela Bay , Buffalo City and the City of Tshwane .

According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, people who die of Covid-19 should be cremated. If cremation is not possible, burial must follow strict procedures. Burial heightens the risk of contamination. The City of Johannesburg already has a burial capacity that will accommodate 1 384 000 bodies. The current burial capacity, City spokesperson Mlimandlela Ndamase said, “can handle any eventuality”. In a presentation on its Covid-19 response plan in May, the city told Parliament’s co-operative governance portfolio committee it had identified 517 hectares of burial space.that the municipality has identified 30 hectares of land “for mass burials, should it occur”.

Buffalo City’s grave site preparations are extensive. People travel to the Eastern Cape for funerals, a factor that has stoked the spread of the virus in the province. , the municipality has already identified extensions of its existing cemeteries that will make space for 6 500 new graves. This is on top of a recent extension of the Haven Hills Cemetery, which opened up 10 000 more plots. The municipality has also identified four more cemeteries that could be extended.

 

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