Hindu community members in Pretoria have asked the Tshwane municipality to consider allowing them to manage the city's crematorium because of ongoing problems at the facility. The crematorium in Rebecca Street has been non-operational since July last year and has forced Hindus in the city to travel to the Brixton crematorium in Johannesburg or one near Krugersdorp to carry out cremations, a customary Hindu practice. Earlier the Tshwane municipality informed Hindu organisations that the crematorium was fully operational. But Ramesh Chhagan, speaking on behalf of a number of Hindu organisations, said not all four furnaces were operational. "It would appear that one furnace is fully operational, the second one partially, while the last two are not functioning at all," said Chhagan. He said organisations in Lauduim have jointly approached the council to consider leasing the crematorium facility to them. "The Hindu community organisations are currently gathering information to determine what the operational expenses are and what expenditure the facility will need to be fully functional. Based on our findings, we will then be in a position to decide if we will take over the running of the crematorium and on what terms and conditions," said Chhagan. Dikeledi Phiri, Tshwane municipality's communications director, said two furnaces were operational. "The non-functioning or malfunctioning of furnaces is generally due to wear and tear, but we're disappointed that the furnaces lasted for only five years, yet the three furnaces cost the council about R3-million to purchase and import from the United States," said Phiri. She said the municipality had requested an additional budget to fix the non-functioning furnaces. She added that while they "regrettably note the frustration and dismay that the situation had caused to the direct consumers of this service, as a city, we're not intending to lease the facility, as we believe we have the capacity to run it". The Hindu community in Lenasia are facing a similar problem after a blast at the crematorium caused wiring and the roof structure to burn out. Cats Poonee, chairman of the Lenasia Hindu Crematorium, said a gas explosion caused structural damage to the crematorium in December. He said the committee had met with city officials to discuss a solution. Hindu United Burial Society's Preyalin Pillay said the closure of the crematorium had caused an inconvenience to families, and funeral services. "We have to travel a long distance to Brixton in Johannesburg and we also have to wait for a slot to become available for the cremating process," said Pillay. http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article283612.ece
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