‘Strange’: Gabrielle Union sparks backlash after burying dad’s ashes in SA
· The South African
Gabrielle Union’s decision to bury her father’s ashes in Cape Town has elicited a strong response from South Africans.
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The US actress posted a clip of the sentimental moment, taken at a “black-owned winery”, on her Instagram account.
BACKLASH TO GABRIELLE UNION BURYING DAD’S ASHES IN SA
Over the weekend, Gabrielle Union shared a video of her burying her dad Sylvester Union’s ashes under a vineyard at “the only black-owned winery in Cape Town” – Klein Goederust.
The actress revealed that she and her family, including her dad, had planted the grapes under the exact vine during her 50th birthday celebrations in 2022.
In the clip, Gabrielle dug a hole in the ground before pouring the ashes of her father, who died last month, inside.
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While the act received comforting words from her followers under the post on the X platform, others questioned her actions, particularly the location.
Here’s what a few had to say…
@Nocoffe50: “Gabrielle Union claims to have Ghanaian heritage. Why can’t she go there?”
@MizaMangal67977: “There’s something creepy about this”
@xzoif: “Out of interest, what ancestral bloodline did Gabriel’s father have to Cape Town or even South Africa?”
@Playboi_lev1: “Someone dig those ashes up😭 South Africa is not a cemetery”.
‘NO LINKS TO SOUTH AFRICA’
Meanwhile, Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) secretary-general, Dr Zolani Mkiva, also questioned Gabrielle Union’s actions, labelling them “untraditional and unhistorical”.
He told TimesLive: “They [Union and her father] don’t have connections with SA nor have they lived in the country or the father passing on here. Why on earth would they want to bury him here?
He continued: “I don’t see the logic. We don’t have such a tradition [as Africans]; it’s in fact untraditional and unhistoric. If that person had died in SA, it would have made a bit of sense. This is strange and cannot be encouraged, and I wonder who they interacted with here in SA.”
SCATTERING HUMAN ASHES – WHAT IS PERMITTED?
According to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, human ashes can be transported to South Africa, provided the holder has specific documentation, including the deceased’s death certificate, cremation certificate, and ID.
Scattering ashes in public is governed by each municipality’s bylaws. In Cape Town, authorities request that individuals be mindful when scattering ashes in areas such as public gardens, parks, and beaches.
Scattering ashes on private property – like Gabrielle Union did – requires the owner’s permission.
The star has revealed that the owners are “like family” and likely received their consent.