burial Archives - Voice of the Cape

Over 140 burial plots allocated to muslim community at Rusthof Cemetery, Strand

LOCAL Over 140 burial plots were allocated to the muslim community at the Rusthof Cemetery in Strand on Wednesday. Members of the MJCSA and local Islamic societies were among those who attended an official opening ceremony, and ensured the designated graves faced qibla. It grants relief to nearby suburbs, given that the local privately owned cemetery is the only one which accommodates Muslim burials and has already reached capacity. The […]

1 December 2022

International News

Covid-19: Sri Lanka chooses remote island for burials

A remote island has been chosen by Sri Lanka's government for the burial of Covid-19 victims from the minority Muslim and Christian communities. The government previously forced minorities to cremate their dead in line with the practice of the majority Buddhists. It claimed burials would contaminate ground water. But the government backed down last week in the face of vehement criticism from rights groups. Islam prohibits cremation. Iranathivu island in […]

3 March 2021

News

WCape Muslim burials not affected by strike

The Western Cape Muslim Undertakers Forum will not partake in the nationwide three-day strike announced by the funeral sector. More than 3000 funeral industry employees are expected to down tools and have vowed not to collect corpses after the government failed to respond to their demands. Amongst the grievances are improved working conditions and higher remuneration. The aggrieved undertakers are demanding the outsourcing of mortuary facilities and that the government […]

14 September 2020

News

Mowbray cemetery open to visits, amid easing of restrictions

For the first time in several months, Muslims can now ziyarat (visit) their deceased loved ones at Mowbray cemetery. The cemetery had been open only for burials, amid stringent COVID-19 lockdown regulations imposed by the government to curtail the spread of the virus. Due to a decline in Covid-19 cases and the stabilization of hospitalizations and fatalities, the South African government announced the easing of Alert Level 2 last week. […]

26 August 2020

News

Hambe Kahle Advocate Hishaam Mohamed

Tributes have poured in following the death of Advocate Hishaam Mohamed, the former provincial head of the Justice Department, who had since 2019 been an ANC MP. Advocate Hishaam Mohamed passed away last night due to a heart attack. Having held various titles in the social justice sector since high school, the advocate embarked on a lifelong journey encouraging active citizenship and ensuring equal access to justice and improved services. […]

25 August 2020

News

MJC updates COVID-19 burial guidelines, trains 40 toekamanies

As the Muslim community in Cape Town sees a surge in coronavirus related deaths and with the expected peak of the virus, the Muslim Judicial Council has trained 40 new toekamanies/ undertakers to assist families during this time. The group had attended specialized workshops on how to safely handle the body of a person who died whilst being COVID-19 positive. Held at Masjid al-Khair in Mitchell's Plain on Sunday, the graduation […]

15 July 2020

News

Cost of Muslim COVID19 burial raises questions

As the number of COVID-19 fatalities in South Africa continues to rise, so does the despair of not being able to hold traditional burials . The Muslim community is no exception, with the virus claiming at least 59 lives in the Western Cape alone, with 95 deaths nationally. The increased price of the funeral services has also raised some eyebrows. Speaking to VOC on Tuesday, independent undertaker Yaghyah Canfield explained […]

11 June 2020

News

City prepares for expected rise in COVID-19 fatalities

With concerns that the Western Cape is yet to see the peak of coronavirus infections, the City of Cape Town is preparing individual graves to ensure a dignified service to the immediate family. While the demand for the burial of COVID-19 victims is still manageable, the city council said it wants to prepare adequate burial space should the number of deaths rise. Under normal circumstances, there is an average of […]

22 May 2020

News

Bo-Kaap community devastated by first COVID-19 death

By Tasneem Adams The Bo Kaap community is reeling after the first Muslim in Cape Town died on Saturday as a result of the coronavirus. 81-year-old Kulsum Cassiem was hospitalised last week and placed in isolation at Christian Barnard hospital. According to a statement by Health Minister Zweli Mhkize, the elderly woman had presented symptoms of fever, shortness of breath, body pains, dry cough and sore throat. She also had […]

6 April 2020

burial

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