AFPO threatens full shutdown

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, funeral parlor directors are demanding that the outsourcing of mortuary facilities be recognized and legalized, along with various other demands. The African Funeral Practitioners Organisation (AFPO) said that the organization and its affiliates plans to embark on a strike, and warned that no bodies will be picked up from private and government mortuaries and homes. AFPO has also warned that no funerals would be conducted due to the strike action by affiliated members, and more than 3000 employed staff.

The organization also demands that the Department of Home Affairs must allow them to appoint a third party to conduct some duties on their behalf, which is now prohibited by law. The organization has warned that it will intensify its action should government fail to meet its demands. The Department of Health said that it tried at several meetings last month to resolve the dispute, and that the National Funeral Practitioners Association of South Africa was the only organization that had informed them of the strike. “We've been trying to talk to the government, but they've never wanted to listen to us. We'll still help our members, we'll direct them to the police, and then we will direct them to forensics to do the pick-ups.” AFPO president, Raisibe Pole-Nkosi, stated.