Maintenance at graveyards non-existent
Some of them have broken tombstones; while other graves have become invisible among the overgrown grass and shrubs.
LYDENBURG – Unkempt and alleged flouting of proper burial procedures at graveyards have made life unbearable for some people who visit the graves of their loved ones.
The local municipality has neglected the local graveyards for a long time, some of the graves in the historical cemetery date as far back as 1900.
Some of them have broken tombstones; while other graves have become invisible among the overgrown grass and shrubs. An area next to the graveyard in town is even being used as a dumping site.
The new Lydenburg cemetery, which is a few kilometres from the previous one, is being maintained, however some families have complained about grave not having concrete slabs.
According to Ms Annelie Connear, a mother who lost her son three years ago, the municipality was supposed to put a concrete slab over her son’s grave so that she could erect a tombstone for him.
“When I paid for the grave I was told that a concrete slab would be placed over the grave, but to my surprise it is still not there,” she said. “I contacted the municipality but they didn’t do anything.
Every time when it rains the cross I placed on my son’s grave falls over, I have to make sure when I go there that I put it back to its proper position,” she explained. “I would like to put a headstone up for him so that I can remove that cross,” she added.
According to the municipal spokesman, Mr Puleng Mapheto, the municipality is aware about the situation at the grave sites but their major challenge is that they don’t have the necessary equipment to clean the area.
“We are currently engaging with stakeholders to assist. We have asked the Public Works Programme manager to provide manpower and we will start with the project soon,” he said. “We would like to express our sincere apology to the community of Mashishing and Lydenburg,” he added.
