Crematorium working again

The crematorium in Windhoek is fully operational again after the oven used to cremate bodies broke down two weeks ago.

A heart pacemaker implanted in a person whose body was being reduced to ashes exploded during the cremation process, causing the furnace to break.

City spokesperson Lydia Amutenya on Monday said the city, which operates the crematorium, has started with cremations again today.

Namibia only has one crematorium, situated in the Gammams Cemetery in Pionierspark in Windhoek. The crematorium was built in 1975.

Cremations have been brought into the spotlight after the Ministry of Health and Social Services announced that families of people who died of Covid-19 may transport their loved ones' remains only if the deceased had been cremated at the families' cost.