Crematorium visitors victims of criminals

Armed guards are likely to become a regular feature at a Durban crematorium following a recent spate of attacks on mourners.

The Clare Estate Crematorium committee, which oversees the management of the Reservoir Hills facility, has in recent weeks been inundated with complaints from mourners whose cars have been broken into during cremations.

Treasurer Deep Nundkissore said the increase in robberies correlated with the high number of cremations the facility handled in the past two weeks.

"We have about 10 cremations a day. This means our last cremation is after 6pm every day. It's winter, meaning it is dark by then. We believe criminals are taking advantage of this."

Nundkissore said the committee would meet to discuss the possibility of employing armed guards.

"We have two car guards who are not always around. There are a lot of areas to cover and on busy days the two of them are not enough."

He added that it was important for mourners to feel safe and not to worry about their possessions during "what is a difficult time".

Reservoir Hills Community Police Forum chairman Ish Prahladh acknowledged that he had received complaints from bereaved family members.

"People are sayingthat if you can't be safe at a crematorium, where are you safe?"

Prahladh welcomed the suggestion of armed guards.

"It is an open plot of land and criminals are taking advantage of that and the people who are in mourning."