If death is the great equalizer, South Africa's designer graveyards look like one of the best ends on offer.

Memorial Park cemetery in Soweto, South Africa's biggest township, is one of five cemeteries owned by listed company Calgro M3, whose fortunes are tied to land and housing.

Land is a hot-button issue in the world's most unequal country, according to the World Bank, where the richest 10 percent of South Africans own about 71 percent of the country's wealth, and the bottom 60 percent control only 7 percent.

In Johannesburg there are 32 public cemeteries, plus a handful of private ones, according to the City of Johannesburg.

An average funeral will involve a cow for slaughtering at about 6,000 rand, undertaker fees at about 4,000 rand, a tombstone can go up to 7,000 rand and a casket for 8,000 rand, according to online insurance quotes.

The total cost ended up at 27,000 rand, more than eight times what Khanyi's family had hoped to pay.

Government should own cemeteries and mourners will pay a subsidized, standard fee, Mphambukeli added.

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