In the event of a loved one passing due to natural causes:

1. Loved one passes at home
– Kindly contact an ambulance to confirm the death.
– Contact us on (016) 341 6054 to arrange removal (all hours).
– We will make all the necessary arrangements.

2. Loved one passes at government hospital
– If your loved one is already admitted into the hospital, please contact us on (016) 341 6054 to arrange removal (business hours only).
– If your loved one is not yet admitted into the hospital (eg still in casualty or enroute to hospital), please contact us on (016) 341 6054 to arrange removal (all hours).
– We will make all the necessary arrangements.

3. Loved one passes at private hospital
– Contact us on (016) 341 6054 to arrange removal (all hours).
– We will make all the necessary arrangements.

In the event of a loved one passing due to unnatural causes: – Kindly contact your local SAPS office.
– The SAPS will advise on further instructions.

A funeral is a ceremony to help family, friends, and community members honor their loved one and pay their respects. Funerals are dedicated to letting friends and family members of the deceased remember the life of their loved one while beginning on the road to healing.

For sure. At HlalaNathi Funeral Services, we highly recommend personalizing the memorial service to celebrate the life of the deceased. Our funeral directors and assistants are always ready to discuss your options with you, tailoring your service to your wishes.

Funeral directors are registered administrators and caregivers. From an administrative standpoint, they handle arrangements such as transportation of the body, the completion of paperwork, and initiating action surrounding the family’s choice of funeral service and burial/cremation of a body.

From a caregiving standpoint, they are compassionate listeners, supporters, and advisors during a difficult time. Funeral directors are familiar with helping the bereaved cope with death and loss, and can help them find the appropriate sources of comfort and assistance.

A registered funeral director should always be in possession of an up-to-date Certificate Of Competence issued by the Department of Health. In addition to the aforementioned certificate, a registered funeral director should also be registered at the Department of Home Affairs.

It is a process of reducing the human body to bone fragments using high heat and flame.

It depends on the weight of the individual. For an average size adult, cremation takes from two to three hours at normal operating temperature between 800 degrees C to 1,100 degrees C.

All organic bone fragments, which are very brittle, as well as non-consumed metal items are “swept” into the front of the cremation chamber and into a stainless steel cooling pan. All non-consumed items, like metal from clothing, hip joints, and bridge work, are separated from the cremated remains. This separation is accomplished through visual inspection as well as using a strong magnet for smaller and minute metallic objects. Items such as dental gold and silver are non-recoverable. Remaining bone fragments are then processed in a machine to a consistent size and placed into a temporary or permanent urn, selected by the family.

Cremated remains resemble coarse sand and are whitish to light gray in color. The remains of an average size adult usually weigh between 500g to 1500g cremated remains.

With the exception of minute and microscopic particles, which are impossible to remove from the cremation chamber and processing machine, all of the cremated remains are given back to the family.

There are many options. Remains can be buried in a cemetery lot or cremation garden, kept at home, or scattered on private property. Our staff will be happy to discuss these options with you and make any arrangements.

No, a casket is not required for cremation. All that is required by state law is a rigid container which is cremated with the body.

Due to the fact that there is no crematorium situated in Heidelberg, it usually takes around 2 weeks.

No. Some prefer to have the whole funeral service conducted either at their local church, at a funeral parlour, or at some other place of their choice.

As there are a number of legal formalities with which one must comply with, it is wisest to let us arrange for the completion of the statutory forms for cremation through ICSA. If you are the executor or the next of kin, or are authorized by either to do so, you will be required to sign the Statutory Application for Cremation, before a Commissioner of Oaths. We will help you with this, and then forward all the required documentation to ICSA.

Apart from signing the agreement – confirming your wishes for the cremation – with us, you will be asked to sign a document to confirm how you wish to dispose of the cremated remains (ash). Our past experience indicates that it is wise to make a decision regarding the resting place of cremated remains as soon as possible. However, if you are undecided, discuss the matter with us to arrange temporary storage of remains, giving you time to make a decision.

Yes. These implants can explode at high temperatures, not only causing damage to cremators, but also placing crematorium staff at risk.

Yes. The coffin as received, with all external fittings, is always cremated. In some municipal areas, crematoria may be required by regulations or legislation (bylaws) to remove the external non-combustible fitting prior to the cremation. The fittings will then be handed back to us or destroyed, in accordance with regulations.

Yes. South African legislation and municipal bylaws Required that a coffin is used for cremation. It also ensures that the dignity of the deceased is respected at all time. Hygiene and the health and safety of the crematorium staff is also a Legislated aspect to consider. Crematoriums further requires the coffin to completely enclosed the body, be strong enough to bear the weight of the body without collapsing and be made out of combustible material.

No. The design of modern cremators do not allow for two adults to be cremated together.

Approximately 90 minutes.

As each cremator will only accept one adult coffin, and the remains must be removed before the cremator is used again, all remains are kept separate throughout the process. ICSA Crematoriums have a unique identification process and families can rest assured that the correct remans are ultimately handed over.

Yes, we will arrange this for you. The container, however, must be sturdy enough for the task.

Leave specific instructions in your Will or and advise your next of kin.

The death of a loved one is an event that all of us are likely to experience during our lifetimes. The only adequate precautionary measure that can be taken to avoid financial stress when it does happen is to have funeral insurance. It is worth bearing in mind that funerals are particularly costly events that can cause unnecessary financial stress for your family. Taking out funeral insurance can help deal with this cost, giving everyone peace of mind should the worst ever happen.

It is possible to pay as little as R99.00 per month for funeral insurance of R10000 for a single person (18 – 64 years) making it a minimal financial commitment. We have affordable funeral plans available for funerals, cremations and transport.

Applying for a funeral insurance policy is something you might not think about until later in life, but there is no reason why you shouldn’t consider it earlier. It is possible to sign up for funeral insurance as young as 18. In some cases, people only think about funeral insurance after they have suffered a loss, which might be too late.

We have funeral plans for individuals and families. Our family plans comprise of a main member, spouse and up to 15 children under the age of 21. We also provide for extended family members that can be added to your policy. We also provide funeral plans for pensioners. Please contact us for advice and we will gladly advise you and make recommendations that suit your individual needs.

It is a funeral or cremation service that can be purchased in advance. Your wishes are documented in a written contract and paid for at today’s prices so your loved ones don’t have to pay any additional costs.

Our clients have the opportunity to arrange and pay for their service at today’s price. This takes the stress off your loved ones and allows your family and friends to focus on the personal aspects of the service rather than financial concerns. It also eliminates emotional overspending. You can make all your choices now, and fix the price at today’s cost. It means real peace of mind for you and your family.

It is designed to reflect your personalized wishes and therefore can include whatever you wish, whether it be a burial or cremation service.