Not Paying Out
Today, I asked Flossie Zumama, our dear and wonderful employee (who keeps me, the friary and business offices in good order), to sit awhile and tell me how things had gone since the previous Thursday after leaving the premises early that morning for public transportation (in a 12 passenger van) to Impendla, a Zulu area of several thousand inhabitants, an hour and a half ride from Our Lady of Mercy in Kloof. Her family obligation was to be present and supportive in whichever way possible, while at the same time grieve and greet those who came to render condolences to the family of Zanele Mchumu, Flossie’s 39 year old single niece, who died of asthma - often, a euphemism for HIV/AIDS.
Grieving over the loss of a dear relative is more than enough to deal with. Certainly, one does not need the blatant and callous injustice Flossie hesitatingly began relating. Get this, cash in hand first, before any services are to be rendered by any Funeral Home establishment.
Six years ago Zanele Mchumu purchased an insurance package that was to take care of all funeral expenses from the point of death to burial and a merci meal thereafter. The cost - R 30 ($5.00) a month is the equivalent of three to four hours pay, a Zulu domestic would ordinarily earn.
Here’s what happened. In the last month of Zanele’s illness she missed one payment in six years and it was because of that one missed monthly payment that the funeral director refused to render any services to the deceased’s family. After paying out R 2, 160 with one missed payment the family and relatives are now left on their own to come up with sufficient funds for a proper burial or be embarrassed for not doing so.
As it turned out, the sister of the deceased paid in R 800, Flossie paid in R 2,000 and her brother put in the remainder of R 1,000. Mind you, there is no proper funeral arrangement until cash is in hand.
You might ask the question, ‘What about Welfare?’ Surely, they would do something. Guess again. Here’s what happens in these cases. A mass grave is dug not knowing where or when this may occur. This is another sad story of good living people who try their best to do what is honorable and fitting for family or friends who have preceded them. Yes, there are many poor, unsung heroes and Flossie to my mind is one of them.
Fr. Al