The Implications of Social Distancing Policy and COVID-19 Restrictions on Burials and Funerals in the South African Context

Since its outbreak in Wuhan, China in 2019, COVID-19 has spread across the globe. Many governments adopted unprecedented policies and guidelines to prevent human-to-human transmission of the virus. While scientific proof cannot be underestimated, the social distancing policy posed some challenges to African burials. Burials in black African communities remain sacred, often rooted in ancient belief systems connecting life and death. Based on the notion of umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu to frame the discussion, the objective of this paper is to conceptually study the constraints and challenges posed by social distancing and funeral restrictions on black African burial rites and funerals in South Africa. The paper finds that COVID-19 regulations and restrictions have hindered the routine and religious treatment of the dead body, burial rituals, and the actual funeral. Taking into consideration South Africa's past gross human rights violations during Apartheid, the paper suggests that the government should approach the issue of funerals and burials with a high degree of sensitivity.