Residents concerned about historic cemetery

A group of Emjindini residents has pleaded with the Umjindi Municipality to ensure that a grave site where their relatives were buried until the late 1960s, is restored to a condition pleasing to visitors and respectful to those buried there.

The graves are situated between Lomati Sawmill and the railway line.

According to Sibongile Sambo, chairman of Umjindi Residents Organisation, the area was used as a cemetery until 1960 when the Graveville site was established.

She said it had since been neglected. “During our recent visits we were shocked by its state. It has become overgrown by waist-high grass and weeds. Rodents have burrowed holes beneath some of the headstones. We didn’t know if we were going to run into snakes. Some markers had been knocked to the ground,” said Sambo.

This burial site was in use when the local township was still called Esentela before it was renamed Emjindini.

Sambo said they established the organisation with the intention of restoring the cemetery. “Our forefathers, parents, brothers and sisters were laid to rest there. As part of our African culture, we need to visit them. We need help from the municipality to clear the area,” she added.

“We need this, with the intention of claiming the land from the government because our forefathers were forcefully evicted in 1958.

“Where Emjindini High School is today, used to be our parents’ area. They farmed there before it was developed. Our families’ large houses were demolished and they were forcefully evicted by the apartheid municipality in 1958 and relocated to the tiny matchbox houses at Spearville,” she said.

Sambo said they have already met with Umjindi director of community services, Comfort Makhanya, who had promised to assist in clearing the area.

The council couldn’t be reached for comment at the time of going to print.

The residents’ organisation meets every Sunday at Emjindini High School at 14:00.