Families forced to rebury loved ones as Moofontein Cemetery deteriorates
Families are exhuming bodies of their loved ones at Mooifontein Cemetery because of dumping and running water from a burst pipe that is damaging graves.
Mooifontein Cemetery has seen better days.
Over the years, the cemetery has fallen into a dire state of disrepair.
One of the more recent and most worrying issues at the cemetery is a burst water pipe.
The leaking water constantly runs through the cemetery, destroying graves.
Some community members blame the illegal dumping on those who live close to the cemetery.
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Residents believe the community of Vusimuzi is responsible for dumping rubbish at the cemetery and on top of graves.
A visitor to the cemetery who spoke to the Kempton Express, on condition of anonymity, said the community of Vusimuzi receives refuse removal services from the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) and has no valid reason for them to dump rubbish on top of graves.
“They even removed parts of the fence so they can have easy access to the cemetery and dump their rubbish,” said the man.
The state of the cemetery has prompted families to exhume their loved ones and rebury them elsewhere.
Warrant Officer Barbara Ferreira, Norkem Park SAPS spokesperson, spoke to the Kempton Express.
“The cemetery has turned into a dumping site. We have now done three exhumations for reburials,” she said.
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Ferreira added some families rebury their loved ones at different cemeteries and some choose to rebury at the same cemetery but on a different side of the cemetery where there is no dumping and running water from the burst pipe.
“The water from the burst pipe seeps into the graves, and families are forced to use buckets to remove the water before they can lift the casket to the surface for reburial.”
The Kempton Express reached out to environmental specialist David Otto, to learn more about the impact of the water seeping into graves.
“Anything that loses its fluid into the ground is regarded as having leached and the fluid is a leachate. With decomposing bodies, or even a decomposed body, it releases necro leachate.
“Essentially, our bodies comprise chemicals, so necro leachate is a concoction of water, ammonia, organic matter and salts.
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“There may also be pathogens present.
“When the necro leachate is released, it can enter the groundwater and streams,” he said.
Otto said when this happens, the water can smell and taste bad.
“Additionally, it can present pathogens to humans and animals.
“It can also introduce substances into the environment that should not be there, such as artificial hormone treatments and chemotherapy and other medical procedures that don’t break down over short periods.”
He urged investigations must be undertaken.
The Kempton Express sent an enquiry for comment to the CoE on October 23, requesting a comment by November 3.
At the time of going to print, we received no comment.
