LamDel Residents Association chairperson Jakkie Janse van Vuuren thanked the community members who came out on January 29 for the Elsburg cemetery clean-up.

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“The state of the cemetery is shocking, overgrown with weeds and grass. Tombstones have been pushed over and broken. Sadly, the council allowed it to get to this state,” said Janse van Vuuren.

She said the cemetery services a large area hence when LamDel was invited to join the clean-up they were happy to assist.

“As LamDel we try and support community projects as far as possible. When we heard about this project we wanted to contribute. It might not be in our direct area or even the LamDel area, but a lot of our members and the community at large have relatives buried at the cemetery.

“By helping out we hope that our community will once again be able to visit the graves of their family and loved ones,” said Janse van Vuuren.

She said it is hoped that the clean-up day will become an ongoing initiative.

“You cannot cover all that needs to be done in a day. We need an ongoing project and sponsors. The volunteer team needs bushwhackers, PPEs, rakes and spades, granite cement and other items, and naturally more volunteer hands to help lift and refit gravestones and to clean,” said Jansen van Vuuren.

Resident Naomi de Vries expressed her gratitude to all who helped on the day.

“Thank you for the opportunity to clean my grandparent’s grave. It meant so much to me as we were unable to visit the grave,” said de Vries.

Jansen van Vuuren said residents are excited about the cemetery clean-up because this will allow them to be able to visit their loved ones again.

She urged and called on residents and businesses to support the initiative.

She also challenged residents in the Elsburg and LamDel areas to join the volunteer project.

Contact Hennie Swanepoel on 071 877 6265.