A person may not just dispose of a body as and when they see fit. So each municipality has strict regulations and by-laws concerning the cremation and burial of bodies. Read more here on Johannesburg disposing of a body.
Burials
The Johannesburg City Parks is responsible for the upkeep 
- Only one body may be in a coffin for the burial.
- Under certain conditions, the officer-in-charge may approve more than one.
- A body must be in a body-bag before put in the coffin.
- If there is to be more than one body in the coffin, each body must be in its own body-bag.
The standard size of a grave is:
- 2.3 metres long x 900mm wide, and 2.0 metres deep, for an adult
- 1.5 metres long x 700mm wide, and 1.5 metres deep, for a child
- Coffins must consist of natural wood or any other perishable material.
Cremations
There are three crematoria in Johannesburg – Braamfontein, Brixton, and Lenasia. They use gas heat to cremate the remains. So a recognised funeral director must handle the legal documents necessary for a cremation to take place.
- Only a medical referee can give permission for a cremation.
- The main cause of death must be said beyond doubt.
- The deceased must not have been against cremation.
- This is all confirmed by a medical doctor on the Application for Cremation forms.
- Remove medical implants like pacemakers first, as they can put staff and equipment in danger if they explode at the high temperatures needed during cremation.
- Only one adult cremation may be done at a time.
- All remains from the cremation must be away before the cremator is in use again.
- Each crematorium has their way of identifying the cremation remains. The family can be sure that they will receive the correct ashes.
- The funeral director will also ask the family how they would like to receive the cremains.
- Coffins for cremation must consist mainly of timber or wood derivatives.
Exhumation
Exhumation is the removal of human remains from a grave. There are four reasons to take into mind before permission is given for this:
- and ascertain cause of death
- for ascertain the identity of the deceased
- to transfer remains to another burial place
- to remove remains for cremation
- A police officer needs to be present at the exhumation. The application needs to be made seven working days before exhumation.
Permission must be from:
- The office of the Minister of Development and Planning
- Gauteng Provincial Department of Health
- Minister of Health of the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Council with a certified copy of the death certificate of the deceased.
Johannesburg disposing of a body
For all the information on Johannesburg disposing of a body, look no further than Johannesburg City Parks. Who will be able to explain all the rules, regulations, and by-laws regarding any burial or cremation.
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