Thembisa and Olifantsfontein residents seek city action to save neglected heritage graveyard
The relevant city departments raised hopes with a visit to the community to discuss their concerns about the cemetery.
Thembisa and Olifantsfontein residents have appealed to the CoE since May to intervene in the deterioration of an old, long-neglected graveyard.
The community is worried about the resting place of their forefathers, which is overgrown, vandalised, and, in some areas, used for private farming.
After years of unanswered letters and mounting frustration, officials from the CoE departments of City Parks and Cemeteries and Heritage renewed hope when they visited the community to assess the situation.
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During the visit, officials outlined the process of preserving the burial site. They explained that many of the graves were over 60 years old, meaning they qualified for heritage protection, which would prevent any commercial or agricultural activity in the area.
Residents had raised the alarm that sections of land were used for farming, with some graves allegedly removed to make space for business operations.
Many City Parks and Cemeteries representatives arrived alongside the relevant stakeholders for the community engagement.
They emphasised the importance of the matter and confirmed that the land on which the graves lie is privately owned, meaning further delegations would be necessary to reach a lasting resolution.
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Officials described this meeting as the first phase of intervention, with a follow-up planned to discuss the next steps.
“We are happy to see the Department of Heritage in our midst. It gives us hope that positive results will follow,” said resident Andrew Morifi.
“This is about preserving our heritage and honouring the resting place of our forefathers. It’s painful to see how the graveyard has turned into a dumping site. We are often blocked from cleaning it, but remain hopeful after this visit.”
The Thembisa and Olifantsfontein community chairperson, Isaac Namane, echoed similar concerns and spoke of the emotional toll.
“Our people are buried here, and it is up to us to keep the area clean. As you can see, many remaining graves are covered by trees, and we struggle to maintain them because we’re not allowed to access the property,” the chairperson said.
For years, residents have remained patient and peaceful in voicing their grievances, keeping copies of correspondence sent to the city requesting meetings.
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Their wish is simple: To restore and protect the site, to stop the removal of and damage to graves, and to be allowed to visit and honour their loved ones.
Although the graveyard is on private land and used for commercial purposes, the recent city visit has rekindled hope that the matter will finally receive the attention it deserves.
As the process continues, the community awaits the next meeting, hoping for a resolution that considers heritage preservation, dignity, and accountability.
