Cremation is ideal'

MBABANE—While the concept of cremations is still new in Swaziland, at least about 350 people have been cremated at Dups Insurance Brokers and Funeral Administrators since the incinerator (cremation machine) started operating almost two years ago.

According Dups’ Sydney Ajusa, the funeral home manager, the incinerator started operating around November 2007 and up to this far plus or minus 350 people have been cremated there. Ajusa explained that cremation is affordable but could not divulge the exact cost charged, for ethical reasons.

He revealed that a majority that uses their equipment is the white community, but also pointed out that a good percentage of the black community is now using the cremation equipment.
“Cremation is cheaper than the usual ground burial, if you look at it holistically,” explained Ajusa.

He explained that with cremation, there were less costs incurred by the bereaved family, in that the family does not have to prepare for burial, which include costs of food, costs incurred for a night vigil and the funeral costs in general. The funeral home manager at Dups pointed out that cremation was ideal these days given the challenges of shortage of burial ground in most cemeteries.

“Each and every family decides what to do with the cremains or ashes. In some cases, the family may decide that we (Dups) keep the cremains for them, while others take the ashes with them and others dispose of such at sea,” he told the Times SUNDAY in an interview.
He said those who leave the cremains at Dups, usually come once a year, take the ashes and hold a prayer service at the chapel, which is at the funeral home. He elaborated that once the body is cremated, the cremains or ashes are kept in a ceramicurse.

Ajusa pointed out that cremation is also ideal for the burial of paupers, calling on government to consider it instead of pauper’s funerals. He said government can save a lot of money if paupers can be cremated rather than burying.

Dups is the only funeral administration company in the country that has a crematorium.
Former Miss Swaziland Tiffany Simelane is amongst the Swazis who have been cremated. The former beauty queen was cremated three weeks ago after a memorial service which was held at Mater Dorolosa Church.
Her family this week told our sister publication the Times that it would not hold a funeral for the cremains of the former beauty queen.

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