Nadia Khan|Published
Families and funeral providers say the prolonged closure of eThekwini’s Mobeni Heights Crematorium is increasing costs and delaying arrangements, despite a promised R14 million repair plan and a projected February 2027 reopening.
The crematorium has been non-operational since May 2025 after its furnaces experienced recurring breakdowns, overheating and high emissions, raising environmental health concerns for surrounding communities.
In June 2025, eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba visited the facility and assured affected communities that the municipality was accelerating efforts to restore operations.
At the time, the eThekwini Municipality announced that R14 million had been allocated to repair the furnaces and refurbish the facility, with two new furnaces expected to be installed by the end of August 2025.
However, more than a year later, the crematorium remains closed, forcing funeral undertakers to rely on alternative facilities and leaving families facing additional costs, longer travelling distances and uncertainty when arranging funerals.
Christopher Moodley, owner, director and manager of Pinetown Funeral Services, said the closure had created significant challenges for funeral undertakers and the communities they served.
“Mobeni Heights Crematorium has historically been an important facility serving Durban and surrounding communities. Its non-operation has affected the normal allocation of cremation bookings.”
Moodley said funeral directors were forced to make alternative arrangements at facilities further away, increasing fuel consumption, vehicle maintenance costs, staff working hours and the logistical expenses associated with transporting the deceased.
He said these additional expenses placed funeral service providers in a difficult position, as families were already under financial pressure when arranging funerals.
“We make every effort to minimise the financial burden on grieving families. Where possible, we endeavour to absorb certain additional expenses rather than passing every increased cost directly to families. Nevertheless, this is not a sustainable long-term solution for the funeral industry.”
He said securing cremation bookings had also become increasingly challenging, as alternative facilities had their own schedules and operational limitations.
“This is particularly concerning for families whose religious and cultural traditions require cremation within a specific timeframe.”
Moodley said funeral service providers were relying on alternative facilities, including Stellawood, Clare Estate and Verulam, subject to operational status and booking availability.
“This places additional demand on the remaining crematoriums, which are already responsible for servicing large communities. We are concerned that continued pressure on these facilities could result in further delays, congestion and operational challenges.”
One of their greatest concerns, he said, was the emotional impact on bereaved families.
“Families expect funeral arrangements to be handled with dignity, efficiency and compassion. When they are informed that their preferred crematorium is unavailable, it creates uncertainty, disappointment and unnecessary anxiety. Funeral directors are also often left having to explain circumstances that are entirely beyond their control.”
Moodley said a crematorium was not “simply another municipal facility”.
“It provides an essential service at one of the most vulnerable moments in a family’s life. We respectfully call upon the municipality to treat the crematorium's restoration as a matter of urgency.”
Dhayalan Moodley, director of Moodley's Funeral Services, said the closure had placed a significant financial burden on families, with additional costs estimated at about R3 000.
He said both furnaces were out of operation, leaving families with no choice but to use other crematoriums.
“An allocation of R14 million was made for repairs in 2025. To date, nothing has been done. The community needs answers, not excuses. Undertakers are not asking for favours. We are tired of going cap in hand and asking for a clear timeline. Every undertaker is absorbing the extra cost since the closure of the crematorium.”
Moodley said the continued closure had left funeral service providers and residents frustrated, particularly amid rising fuel prices and cremation fees.
He said Clare Estate Crematorium had been accommodating the increased demand, but warned that the prolonged closure was placing further pressure on families.
“While we bury the cost, families bury the pain.”
Rocky Naidoo, a community activist in Chatsworth, said the problems at the crematorium had persisted for more than a decade, with recurring furnace breakdowns and repeated assurances that the facility would be repaired.
“There are two furnaces, and at any given time, one or both will stop working. There was an amount allocated by the municipality for an upgrade, yet the crematorium is still not working.”
Naidoo said residents had been assured during a breakdown in 2024 that funding had been provided and the facility would be operational by July that year.
“However, after that the furnaces failed again, more promises were made in 2025 that the matter would be resolved that same year. It is now almost a year and a half later.
“Quite frankly, the municipality is taking the community of Chatsworth for a ride. It is a service that must be provided because we don't have burial space and residents are being forced to pay significantly more to use private crematoriums, while the municipal facility remains unavailable.
“Furthermore, the tariff at Mobeni Heights Crematorium had previously been about R650 before increasing to R1 800. We want to know why residents should pay more when the municipality does not provide a reliable service. Why increase tariffs if you are not going to maintain the facility? We are now saying that we are tired of empty promises. The crematorium needs to be operational as soon as possible.”
Clive Moodley, president of the Progressive Funeral Practitioners Association of South Africa, said the industry had been grappling with the crematorium's recurring problems for years.
He said several meetings had been held with the municipality over the years, but undertakers had struggled to obtain satisfactory answers until last year.
“Representatives of the funeral industry met with Mayor Xaba last year, who indicated that the crematorium could be operational by February 2027.
“Although the industry hoped the work would be completed sooner, we are grateful that there finally is some progress. We are aware that work to upgrade the crematorium is underway, which gives us hope.”
The eThekwini Municipality did not comment at the time of publication.
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