Deteriorating cemetery is disheartening to residents of Kempton Park
People are being paid to do their jobs that are not being supervised. No one wants to take responsibility for anything.
Kempton Park residents are urging the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) to do something about the state of the cemeteries in the city.
The residents told the Kempton Express they made several failed requests to the CoE to clean and maintain it like before.
They said the Zuurfontein Cemetery used to be a beautiful place, peaceful neat, taps were working and tight security.
“I buried my daughter there in March 2018, and the cemetery used to be beautiful and neat.
“I would go there almost every day to get closure. Always when I knocked off from work I would go there and spend at least one hour or more,” said Daphney Senwadi.
ALSO READ: Thembisa community cleans up Mooifontein Cemetery
“I would clean her grave and at the same time feel very close to her. Some taps were working at that time and I could get water from there when I needed it. There were beautiful roses, and the place was peaceful.
“It even felt like people buried there know me already as I was there almost every day, “she said.
“But now it is different, it’s scarier. It doesn’t feel safe anymore, it’s dirty, and the grass grows too big. The last time I went there, I stepped on a sunken grave,” said Senwadi.
Residents told the Express they were considering exhuming their loved ones.
“I want to take my son to my grandparents’ and father’s graves, as I don’t feel safe anymore,” said Montana Swanepoel.
“I honestly don’t want to go there when it looks how it does.
“When my father was still with us, he went every Friday after work to clean my grandfather’s grave,” she added.
Many residents have expressed their concerns that their ward councillor ignored their pleas for assistance.
Residents told the Kempton Express the Zuurfontein Cemetery was filled with rubbish and they often see people urinating on the graves.
ALSO READ: Families forced to rebury loved ones as Moofontein Cemetery deteriorates
Lucia Elsmore said it was such a shame to see what was once a beautiful cemetery gone to rack and ruin.
“If one has no respect for the dead, one has no respect, period.
“My beautiful 17-year-old daughter was laid to rest there. It is difficult to see how the cemetery looks now.
“It is a very good indicator of the lack of morals of those in power,” said Elsmore.
Joos Nel said, “Seeing the cemetery deteriorate has been painful for me.
“I have nine family members buried there, including my late wife.”
Other concerns of residents include overgrown grass, untrimmed trees, pipe leaks and weeds.
Trudy Jones said it was shocking that as taxpayers, they received no help from any political parties.
“I am heartbroken that my mother and son’s graves got messed with. I am heartbroken that I cannot go spend time at the graves of my loved ones like before,” said Jones.
“My husband, father, mother, stepmom, brother, close friends, children and babies of friends have been buried at Zuurfontein Cemetery,” said Zetone Lopes.
ALSO READ: City condemns vandalism at Mooifontein Cemetery
“My place is marked with my husband. Should I reconsider being put to rest there? What hope do we have that our graves and the grounds will be kept clean and tidy in the future?” questioned Lopes.
Louise Strydom said her grandmother died at the age of 99 years and her final request was to be buried in Kempton Park. She said her brother died in 1962 and was buried as one of the first in Zuurfontein.
“I want to move next year and take my parents with me. I cannot leave them in a place like that. I am heartbroken.
They have paid their rates and taxes to the municipality for years and that is the respect they get,” said Strydom.
The residents said the cemetery used to be beautiful and well cared for, but now items are stolen from graves.
Maurice Erasmus said that both her grandparents, great-grandparents and her mother’s brother were buried at the Zuurfontein Cemetery.
“Every time I take my mother to visit them, she not only has to deal with the heartache of missing them but also the unfortunate sadness that comes with the heart-breaking state of their final resting place.”
Broken tombstones, graves collapsing and uncut grass are just some issues Erasmus has picked up.
Kumeshni Nadasen, a woman who has been selling flowers outside the gates of the Zuurfonten Cemetery for 10 years, said it was sad to see the state of the cemetery.
“I have customers who have moved but kept contact with me, as I put flowers on their loved one’s graves.”
“Some people don’t come because the security is poor,” said Nadasen.
ALSO READ: Clean-up project kicks off at Bredell Cemetery
Residents who frequently visit the cemetery said they believe their loved ones deserved some respect.
Martinette Huggett no longer feels safe visiting the cemetery.
“My husband died on July 10 and I still have not been to the cemetery. I do not feel safe.”
The Kempton Express sent an enquiry to the CoE on December 8, requesting a comment on questions asked by December 11.
At the time of going for print, we received no comment.
