Dispute over ownership of cemetery escalates – meeting on Saturday
The residents’ main complaint is that they have been “locked out of the cemetery because of claims that the old cemetery is a private property”.
Following last week’s Tembisan’s big story about a frustrated community locked out of their relatives’ grave site, the Ekurhuleni-based Ndebele chief, Ndabezitha Macingwane II, has intervened and called on all those affected by this saga to attend an especially planned meeting scheduled for Saturday.
The meeting is planned to take place at the Esigodlweni (royal house), 168 Mqantsa Section, near Kwa Mbhalathi shops.
The cemetery site, which has since caused tensions between the residents and the council, is situated in Olifantsfontein.
According to the royal house spokesperson, Maria Masilela, Macingwane II wants to use this planned meeting to get to the bottom of this matter.
The residents’ main complaint is that they have been “locked out of the cemetery because of claims that the old cemetery is a private property”.
Spokesperson for the City of Ekurhuleni Themba Gadebe confirmed that the cemetery is a privately owned.
“The City of Ekurhuleni wishes to confirm that the property in question is privately owned, and the municipality never sold it to anyone,”Gadebe said.
On the upcoming meeting, Masilela said: “Our leader wants to help those affected and together find amicable solutions to the matter. Because the meeting is scheduled to take place at the royal palace, we would like to appeal to those who will be attending the meeting to adhere to the palace’s dress codes. Men should wear long pants and jacket, and women should wear long shirts and cover up the head with a doek or scarf,” said Masilela.
For more information contact Maria Masilela on 083-571-9734 or Londie Motsoene 076-540-4473.
