The Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) has issued a formal statement correcting what it describes as “misrepresented” reports regarding the alleged R12 million spent on private grave-digging services over the past five financial years.
According to ELM, the figure cited in a parliamentary enquiry has been overstated and politicised.
The municipality explained that it facilitates between 60 and 110 burials per week, making the outsourcing of grave-digging services a necessary response to high demand and limited internal capacity. At the time, manual grave-digging by municipal staff was no longer sustainable.
To address long-term efficiency, ELM has initiated the procurement of Tractor-Loader-Backhoes (TLBs) to reduce reliance on outsourced services. However, the municipality noted that operating this equipment requires certified technical skills that current general workers do not yet possess. As a result, ELM is reviewing its organisational structure to address this skills gap.
In the interim, the municipality has appointed additional general workers across eight cemeteries, where they are responsible for groundskeeping, site preparation, and assisting the public during funerals. Some of these workers have also been deployed within the Parks and Cemeteries Department, supporting the maintenance of public parks and recreational facilities.
ELM has strongly denied allegations of “double dipping,” stating that all procurement processes were conducted in line with the Municipal Supply Chain Management Policy and the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA).
“We understand the public’s concern, but it’s important to separate fact from fiction,” said Councillor Thabiso Molefe, a member of the Municipal Public Accounts Committee. “The municipality acted within legal frameworks to meet an urgent need. We are now working towards internal capacity building to reduce future outsourcing.”
The municipality reaffirmed its commitment to providing dignified burial services while upholding transparency and good governance.