FOLLOW-UP: No more leaks at cemetery
“We would like to thank the public and media for bringing these water leaks to our attention.”
The leaking water pipes at the Rynsoord Cemetery have finally been repaired.
This is according to City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) spokesperson Zweli Dlamini.
Benoni City Times visited the facility on November 13, with Yvonne Rimer, a member of the Benoni Jewish Burial Society, to draw attention to numerous water leaks plaguing operations.
Despondent employees told the publication that they had identified eight major water leaks on the property.
“We have logged countless complaints with the metro over the past two years, yet nothing has been done to fix the problems,” said one employee who wished to remain anonymous.
“Thousands of litres of water have gone to waste. We do not have access to tools or equipment to fix the leaks and therefore rely solely on the metro.
“We have resorted to using pieces of scrap metal and branches to block these pipes but these have proven to be ineffective.”
Responding to questions Dlamini said that the leaking pipes at the cemetery is a cause for concern, especially if one considers the water challenges facing the province and the city.
“The main challenge for the CoE is vandalism and theft,” he said.
“We are working on beefing up the security systems around these facilities to protect the infrastructure and ultimately the water.”
Dlamini however did not comment as to why reports of leaks have gone unanswered, since 2022.
On November 27, Dlamini informed the City Times that all the leaks had been repaired but again declined to comment on the metro’s failure to address the issues timeously.
He also did not respond to queries pertaining to the availability of tools and resources at the facility, which would put cemetery employees in a position to repair water leaks as and when they occur.
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