MAUSOLEUMS: AN ALTERNATIVE TO “SIX FEET UNDER”:

Synopsis of a Presentation given at the National Conference on Cemeteries and Crematoria in Durban 15th & 16th July 2004 by Ian C Coates from Ilembe District Municipality, on behalf of Muldrini Mausoleums.

“This final session of the conference deals with “Alternatives” to conventional in-ground burials. Although Cremation has been vigorously proposed, many of the previous speakers have emphasised that there are serious cultural views on the matter and that the idea of cremation is just as vigorously resisted by many traditional cultures and beliefs.

Tackling the main issues of dwindling burial space and ground-water pollution in cemeteries & the need to accommodate those cultures who will insist on a permanent burial site, where families can identify and visit with their ancestors, MULDRINI MAUSOLEUMS are proposing the adoption of a system already used widely in Europe, the Americas both North and South and in many parts of Asia & Australia too.

The name “Mausoleum” derives probably, from the name of the first recorded person in Greece (Mausoleus), to have insisted upon being buried in a stone, above-ground tomb. Many older cultures were in fact already using this method of venerating their departed ancestors. It should be noted that there are some 5 times as many Pyramids and above-ground stone crypts (Mausoleums) in the Sudan, in North Africa, compared to Egypt. There are also many similar pyramids in South America, Asia and elsewhere, many of them dating back thousands of years.

In other words the concept of above-ground burials, in a stone-encased tomb is a very old tradition, with its roots possibly in Africa - and now being brought back to Africa, by Muldrini Mausoleums, whose demonstration stand is available for viewing in the exhibition hall.

The Muldrini design proposes the construction, of the individual sealed tombs, in pressure-tested hi-tech concrete, clad with durable granite for the tomb end-covers. This design will deliver 1008 burial chambers on the ground-space normally required for 80 in-ground conventional graves. The space utilisation is therefore 12 times better than for in-ground graves.

Cost-wise, when comparing the overall cost of a traditional conventional in-ground burial, MULDRINI believes that a very cost-effective and affordable alternative is now at hand and available, for those municipalities and communities who are faced with having to provide an alternative set of choices to either in-ground (no space available) or Cremation (often anathema to some religious and many cultural groups in South Africa).

Considering that an average in-ground burial, with grave, coffin, tomb-stone and service will cost about R12 000 to R15 000, the proposed cost of the Muldrini system of R3000 per interment, can be seen to be a most affordable optional solution.

Rocky ground, where it is impossible to dig graves and also ground with relatively high water table can be used for the construction of the Mausoleums, on a concrete raft, thus making use of otherwise unusable ground and complementing the Cemeteries’ continuing in-ground burials, where this is still to be made available or is still possible.

The presentation slide show traced the advantages and cost details of the Muldrini system and also offered some pictures of similar structures already in use, in South Africa and in Italy, where the Muldrini system originates. From the slides, the delegates could see that the Muldrini New Burial Concept, for their Mausoleums, is being offered in partnership with the major South African construction company, CONCOR- Technicrete - who have kindly sponsored this presentation and have done the local technical development work for Muldrini, near the East Rand, at Evander and in Ekurhuleni.

An Architects Model of the Muldrini Mausoleum System

Architect’s Perspective A Typical Mausoleum in Italy

The few small Mausoleums already built in Gauteng (for example) are privately funded, on council-owned Cemetery land, with the result that their high cost of some R16 700 per interment, is obviously targeted at the wealthier sectors of the community and not at the wider, less affluent peoples in our country.

Financing of the construction cost of a 1008 unit modular Mausoleum would require R2.5m to R3.0m of bridging finance, which could be provided by the municipality directly, or by way of a Public-Private Partnership or with suitable financing from the MIG or other institutional financing arrangements. Private and religious group-owned and operated Cemeteries may also consider the Mausoleum alternative from MULDRINI.

The cost of the Mausoleum is ultimately recovered from the communities as the space is utilised, so that these Mausoleums can in fact be come self-funding and should therefore not become a drain upon the Municipal resources.

Construction and manufacture of the burial tomb-sets is done on-site by locally trained labour, thus providing for additional community work opportunities.

When ending the presentation, Mr. Coates appealed to the Municipalities to take ownership and accept responsibility for the construction of their Mausoleum option, so that costs could be kept down and so that this alternative could be made affordable to all sectors of their communities”.

A copy of the PowerPoint presentation can be obtained from the author at:
. Detailed technical questions can be answered by 083-647-0598 and marketing information from either Tony van den Berg at Concor or from Jacques Muldrini at telephone in SA 084-513-2341.

MULDRINI MAUSOLEUMS (Pty) Ltd

In association with

 12635 Leraatsfontein, Witbank. 1038 Fax: 084 512 3304

Cell: 084 513 2341Jacques Mulder Email:

Concor: Tony van den Berg 083 647 0598 Email:

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