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- The loved ones of media commentator and radio personality Eusebius McKaiser have demanded an apology from funeral parlour Avbob.
- His coffin fell at his funeral service, reportedly due to a scaffolding fault and Avbob had company branding at the proceedings, without the family's permission, including on the headstone.
- Avbob has apologised for causing offence to the mourners.
Funeral parlour Avbob says it will be meeting with the partner of Eusebius McKaiser after friends and family of the media commentator and radio personality posted an open letter to the company on Twitter, demanding an apology for the way in which his memorial service and funeral service were handled.
According to McKaiser's loved ones, a scaffolding fault at his funeral caused his coffin to fall into his grave.
They also accused Avbob of "shameless marketing".
In the letter, they made the following allegations:
- At the family viewing of the body, McKaiser's cousin had to give her lip gloss to the mortician to cover up "second-rate" cosmetic work which caused his lips to appear dry and cracked.
- Without permission or a discount, the lining of the casket displayed an Avbob logo prominently.
- Avbob-branded tents, tissues, water bottles and other paraphernalia were placed on-site in the cemetery.
Branding was also on McKaiser's headstone in a "brazen and shameless piece of marketing".
The family said: "Brand positioning was not up for discussion or debate at any point in the lead-up to the proceedings."
Elaborating on the incident during the burial, they said pallbearers could not place the casket properly on the scaffolding because it was not the correct size, leading to a chaotic and undignified struggle at the beginning of the proceedings.
READ | Eusebius McKaiser’s family and friends remember the outspoken media personality
"This was eventually remedied by mourners, who took matters into their own hands, as Avbob staff was stumped, not knowing what to do."
When the casket was finally placed on the scaffolding, the support structure failed, and instead of being buried with dignity, the casket crashed to the bottom of the grave, causing parts of the scaffolding, graveside carpeting, and flowers to tumble in after it, they said.
They want Avbob to replace his headstone and want a refund for the costs of the funeral.
They have also called on Avbob to apologise.
The letter stated:
It was signed by Nduduzo Nyanda, McKaiser's partner, and numerous relatives and friends – many of them high-profile media personalities.
Avbob general manager for corporate affairs Adriaan Bester acknowledged the "issue" with the lowering device, saying that it would be addressed internally.
He said while the company logo was displayed on various items at the gravesite, it was for practical reasons, mainly to identify the motorcade and the burial site. Tissues and water were branded routinely by Avbob's supplier and were removed on request by the family.
"While it might be interpreted that the reason for this is pure marketing, this is not the intention," Bester said.
"Despite the underlying reasons and intent, it is clear that in this case the presence of any form of brand identification at the funeral has caused offence."
Bester said the company would discuss the matter with Nyanda at a meeting scheduled for later this month.
"It was never the intent of Avbob or any of its employees or contractors to offend any person involved with the funeral and we unreservedly apologise for any offence caused."
