GROUP BURIAL ASSOCIATION

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What to do when someone passes away

Nothing can prepare you for the emotional shock experienced when losing a loved one.  Even if the death has been expected.

There are two types of death – Natural and Unnatural causes.

The procedures to follow in the event of the natural and unnatural causes slightly differs.  Here are some guidelines that may be of assistance.


Natural causes

Death because of an illness i.e. cancer, heart attack, stroke, renal failure etc.


A. When someone passes away in hospital;

  • Contact the GBA.
  • If the hospital does not have any storage facilities, your appointed funeral director will have to come and collect the deceased from the ward.
  • The issue of the BI 1663 – Notice of Death- will be arranged by the hospital staff and collected by the funeral director.
  • If the deceased is to be cremated, please inform the funeral director so they can arrange for the necessary documentation to be completed.
  • Remember to collect all personal belongings from the hospital.

Please note


If the deceased has been hospitalised as a result of an accident e.g. Motor vehicle accident, fall from stairs etc and passed away after a period of time (day/s, month/s, or years/s), or if a person passed away during an operation while still under anaesthetics, or did not regain consciousness of the operation and passed away, it is considered as unnatural causes.  If a death occurs due to an epileptic fit, (even if the deceased was under the medical treatment for epilepsy), it is also considered as unnatural causes.


B. When someone passes away at home or a nursing home;

  • If during working hours, the first contact should be the medical doctor who last treated the deceased.
  • Contact the paramedics. They need to come out to the scene to certify the death by issuing a declaration of death.
  • If the death occurs at night, contact the paramedics first. The doctor can be contacted the following day.
  • In the case of a nursing home, the staff will liaise with the doctor. It is not necessary to contact the paramedics.
  • In most cases the doctor will require the declaration of death documentation order to complete the BI 1663- Notification of Death.
  • Contact the GBA.

C. When someone passes away unexpectedly (from natural causes)

  • Contact the paramedics to come out to the house, so that they can certify the death and issue a declaration of death.
  • Contact the GBA, we will be able to advise and assist you.

D. When a loved one passes away from home (in another province) or abroad

  • Contact us and we will assist in making all the necessary arrangements?
Unnatural causes

Death because of an accident, drowning, suicide etc


A. When someone passes away in a Hospital/Nursing Home

  • Contact the GBA.
  • The Hospital/ Nursing staff will contact the SAPS
  • The Forensic Pathology Services will remove the deceased from the hospital/nursing home.
  • A post-mortem will be conducted by the Pathologist to determine the cause of death.
  • The BI 1663 will be issued by the Forensic Pathology Services.
  • If the deceased is to be cremated, please inform the funeral parlour so that they can make the necessary arrangements for the documents to be completed.
  • A family member/friend must do the identification at the Forensic Pathology Services.
  • Please remember to take both the deceased’s as well as the person responsible for the identification’s ID Books/cards.
  • A document will then be issued and given to the family to pass on to the appointed funeral director in order to release and remove the deceased from the Forensic Pathology Services.
  • We recommend that you ask a friend or family member to assist in this task.
  • Remember to collect all personal belongings from the hospital, nursing home and Forensic Pathology Services.

B. When someone passes away at home

  • Contact the SAPS, they will send out an officer to come and take down the necessary statements.
  • The Police officer will liaise with the detective on duty, who will then contact the Forensic Pathology Services.
  • Phone your appointed Funeral Parlour,they will advise you regarding the procedures to be followed.
  • It is important not to tamper with any of the forensic evidence on the scene.
  • A post-mortem will be conducted by the Pathologist to determine the cause of death.
  • The BI 1663 will be issued by the Forensic Pathology Services.
  • If the deceased is to be cremated, please inform the funeral parlour so that they can make the necessary arrangements for the documents to be completed.
  • A family member/friend must do the identification at the Forensic Pathology Services.
  • Please remember to take both the deceased’s as well as the person responsible for the identification’s ID Books/cards.
  • A document will then be issued and given to the family to pass on to the appointed funeral director in order to release and remove the deceased from the Forensic Pathology Services.
  • We recommend that you ask a friend or family member to assist in this task.
  • Remember to collect all personal belongings from the hospital, nursing home or Forensic Pathology Services
Guide to arranging a funeral

Arranging a funeral can a be difficult task.  The GBA offers an extremely high level of dedicated funeral care for both the family and their loved ones.  We will advise you of all your options and choices and accommodate you with your wishes and most importantly those of the deceased.

More info