Neglected Primrose Cemetery angers residents
"It should be maintained, secured and accessible to those who still visit."
Residents of Ward 36 raised concerns after visiting the graves of their loved ones at the Primrose Cemetery.
To their surprise, the cemetery had overgrown grass and bushes covering the graves. Some of the tall headstones were only partially visible.
Walking around the cemetery during a visit with Ward 36 Clr Wendy Morgan more issues were discovered.
A section of the pallisade fence on the side of the entrance was missing. Reports say that a vehicle ran through the wall last year.
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Morgan said most of the graves at the cemeteries are over 50 years old.
“The biggest section of the cemetery dates back to the Anglo-Boer War. Those who died during that event they were buried here. You can read some of the graves; there is a great history attached to the cemetery,” said Morgan.
Addressing the recent concerns, Morgan said the parks department needs to be assigned to cut the grass and trim the trees.
She added that due to financial constraints the city has struggled to maintain the parks and cemeteries.
“Residents have contacted me to express their despair when visiting the graveyard. Their displeasure comes from the lack of maintainence at the cemetery, including the lack of proper facilities for the security.
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“Some residents are forced to clean a portion of their loved one’s grave. However, most of the cemeteries have no visitors since their loved ones were long buried here for almost 100 years. This cemetery should be considered to be declared a heritage site for its history.
“It should be maintained, secured and accessible to those who still visit. I think it is very sad that there is no respect for people in their resting place,” said Morgan.
The GCN sent a request for comment to the City of Ekurhuleni on March 18, questioning the city about the upkeep of the cemetery and security measures in place to secure the cemetery. By the time of going to print no comment had been received.
