Concrete cemetery fence destroyed
The dead were disturbed when residents destroyed the fence dividing the Garagopola and the Mapodile cemeteries, citing discrimination by the Greater Tubatse Municipality (GTM) as their reasons. This act of destruction took place on Sunday March 9.
STEELPOORT- The dead were disturbed when residents destroyed the fence dividing the Garagopola and the Mapodile cemeteries, citing discrimination by the Greater Tubatse Municipality (GTM) as their reasons. This act of destruction took place on Sunday March 9.
According to the residents, the municipality erected a concrete fence back in 2012 to divide these two cemeteries; they accused the municipality of unfairly discriminating against them because of their poor status.
Community development forum member of the Garagopola village, Ms Mighty Makofane, told Steelburger/Lydenburg News that the only solution was to do away with the fence. “When the process of establishing this Mapodile cemetery next to Garagopola cemetery started two years back, our community insisted that the yard must be integrated with the old one which the community had used for years as to not create a separate one for the Mapodile township but the municipality ignored us,” the irate Makofane said.
Makofane alleged preferential treatment as their graves (Garagopola) were not cleaned while the Mapodile ones were serviced and guarded daily.
She added, “We communicated several times with the municipality about how this situation was creating division in the community but they kept mum.”
The Garagopola villagers also complained about service delivery at their area. Mr Thabo Mohlala commented, “Our municipality and the government are neglecting us. There is no development in this area; we don’t have electricity, water, schools or clinics. We have been residing here for the past 23 years yet we are still suffering Is this the democracy we voted and longed for?
The villagers also threatened to shun the elections if their situation dids not improve, as they claimed it was no use to vote for ‘criminals’.
Steelburger/Lydenburg News emailed questions to the spokesman for GTM, Mr Thabiso Mokoena about the community’s accusations.
The paper wanted to know if the two cemeteries were indeed treated differently and what led to the concrete fence being erected between the graveyard. The paper also wanted the municipality’s view on claims that the village was sidelined in terms of service delivery.
Mokoena was unavailable for comment before going to print.
The community threatened to eliminate the induna (headman), Mr Daniel Mojela of the Be Ngwenyama ye Maswati. They alleged he was a tribalist who did not care about their problems.
