Funerals in the time of COVID-19

Regulations, transporting corpses and dealing with grief

The lockdown and rules regarding funerals have meant that many people have had to balance adhering to the law and practicing their cultural traditions.

Darren Cohen - General Manager

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31 July 2020 | 2 minute read

The regulations you should be aware of

As per the level 3 Coronavirus lockdown regulations amended 12 July 2020, only 50 people may attend a funeral. Furthermore, movement between provinces, metropolitan areas or districts by a person intending to attend a funeral is only permitted if the person is a:

spouse or partner of the deceased;
child or grandchild of the deceased, whether biological, adopted. stepchild, or a foster child;
child-in-law of the deceased;
parent of the deceased whether biological, adopted or stepparent;
sibling, whether biological, adopted or stepbrother or sister of the deceased; or
grandparent of the deceased;

Only two family members of the deceased may, with the required permits, travel in the vehicle transporting the mortal remains to the metropolitan area, district, or province where the funeral will take place if the cause of death of the deceased being transported is non-COVID-19 related: Provided that the health protocols and social distancing measures are adhered to.

Night vigils are also prohibited and during a funeral, all health protocols and social distancing measures must be adhered to, in order to limit exposure of persons at the funeral to COVID-19.

South Africa has a population that often relocates from more rural areas to cities in order to find work. This means that a large portion of the population will be restricted from exercising there traditions and culture if a loved one passes away. But health officials fear that mourners from the city will carry the virus to rural areas that are among the most vulnerable.

Movement of corpses

There have also been changes to how a body may be moved that have made the cost of a funeral prohibitive for poorer families. But many cultures in South Africa require that it is imperative that a person be laid to rest beside their ancestors. This highlights the importance of having adequate funeral cover.

Dealing with grief

We know how difficult it is to cope after losing a loved one. That is why we provide grief counselling as a standard in all Legal&Tax funeral plans once a policy has been active and paid for six consecutive months.

Mental health is proving challenging in general during the lockdown, but especially so for people working through the loss of a loved one. It is worth while reading our previous article which points out the warning signs of someone dealing with mental health problems.

With Legal&Tax you’re not alone

We payout funeral claims within 24 hours of receiving all funeral claim documents. Contact us for guidance about the most suitable funeral plan for you and your family.

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