What is the maintenance plan Zuurfontein Cemetery?
The state of the cemetery has disheartened residents and deterred a few from visiting their loved ones’ graves.
Untrimmed trees, uncut grass and moles are among some of the things that seem to have buried the pride and dignity of the Zuurfontein Cemetery.
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The state of the cemetery has disheartened residents and deterred a few from visiting their loved ones’ graves.
Lorraine Porter, who used to find great pleasure and comfort in visiting her father’s grave at the cemetery has, for months, battled to get the same comfort she used to get years ago as the upkeep of the cemetery seems to have taken a downward spiral.
She first saw the declining state of the cemetery earlier this year.
“I came to visit my father’s grave on New Year’s Day this year and was shocked to find the overgrown grass almost at shoulder level. I was too scared to go in,” said Porter.
This was the beginning of her battle with various authorities as she tried to get answers or action on the maintenance of the cemetery.
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“I have been back and forth and sent from pillar to post with my attempts to get answers regarding the cemetery,” explained Porter.
“Most of my calls and emails are ignored. I am not the only one who has raised concerns about the cemetery.
“I am on a WhatsApp group for the Zuurfontein Cemetery and some of the experiences shared by the members of the group are heartbreaking and shocking.
“The only person who has truly been helpful and assisting me is ward 104 Clr Tracey Lourenco. She has heard our complaints and also tried to action the matter.”
Lourenco who has also visited the cemetery various times to inspect wasn’t any luckier with getting a response.
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“I have escalated the concerns to the HOD and other department heads.
“However, I still haven’t received the answers and feedback I requested to have by September 16,” said Lourenco.
“Although the HOD is on administrative leave, these concerns were raised and brought to her attention before they leave.”
Security at the cemetery is among Porter’s concerns and Express noted during a recent visit that there was only one security guard posted, tasked with overseeing the entire cemetery.
Porter said at times for safety reasons she doesn’t even get out of her vehicle when she visits her father’s grave.
“We had unknown individuals roaming around the gate area and cemetery outbuildings, watching people when they visit graves,” said Porter.
“The problems at the cemetery that need urgent attention include opportunists seeking to make money by approaching visitors inside the cemetery offering to cut the grass around grave sites, vandalism and damage to graves and no water at the cemetery because all the taps have been turned off.
“People are expected to walk from the far side of the cemetery to offices next door for water.”
She added that moles had taken over and weeds grew over the pavements.
“I also asked about the cemetery’s garden maintenance and grass programme but have received no response.”
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About four taps in the cemetery were seen without tap heads, which raised questions about where visitors will get their water from should they need it.
According to the communication received by Porter, seen by Express, when she enquired about the water issue it stated that the water taps were leaking and wasting water if someone needs water they may approach the office and they will get water.
Lourenco shared on the WhatsApp group, a screenshot of an email from Emmanuel Maphorogo, divisional head of parks and cemeteries, where he stated that maintenance at Zuurfontein started on October 18.
Members of ground staff were seen working on a portion of the entrance on November 18 for about two hours.
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The screenshot from Lourenco was sent on November 2, however, weeks later Porter still asked, “What is the maintenance plan and what exactly does it entail and cover because, besides the front entrance, no other work has been done.
“Where is the budget that was allocated for the cemeteries? All we want is to restore what was once a place to remember our loved ones.”
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