FOLLOW UP: City to investigate following erection of wrong tombstone

The erection, alteration or removal of memorial work at a municipal cemetery requires prior approval from the city.

This is according to City of Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini, in response to an article recently published in the African Reporter about a family demanding answers after someone erected a tombstone for another person on their loved one’s grave.

Thubelisha’s Fikile Magadla discovered that someone had placed a tombstone belonging to another person on her grandfather’s grave at Old Kwa-Thema Cemetery.

According to Dlamini, under Chapter 8, Section 53 of the City of Ekurhuleni Cemetery and Crematorium By-law, 2026, a person intending to erect, alter or remove memorial work must submit the prescribed application to the officer in charge. No such work may commence before the city approves the application.

Dlamini said the prescribed application records details about the applicant and the memorial work, including the tombstone installer.

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He added that the city can therefore search its permit records to establish whether an application was submitted and, where applicable, identify the applicant and/or installer.

The city retains a copy of the approved application, and also provides a copy to the applicant.

“The city can investigate the circumstances surrounding the placement of the tombstone. As part of this process, the city will verify whether a memorial permit was issued and compare the information contained in the permit with the cemetery’s burial records and the details reflected on the tombstone,” explained Dlamini.

He said the city requires tombstone installations to follow the applicable approval process and occur during the prescribed cemetery operating arrangements.

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This is intended, among other things, to allow cemetery officials to verify the grave location and ensure that the approved memorial work is erected at the correct grave.

Dlamini said the city remains committed to assisting families with cemetery-related enquiries, including identifying graves and verifying burial records.

“Families who are uncertain about the location of a grave are encouraged to approach the cemetery office for assistance rather than attempting to locate or identify the grave independently,” he said.

When asked about the digitalisation of the records, the spokesperson explained that the city is developing a Cemetery Management System, which is nearing implementation.

He also said that there are plans to restore or replace the row markings. Magadla told the publication that an official from the Vlakfontein cemetery found the family that erected the tombstone on her grandfather’s grave and will provide feedback after meeting them.