Families unable to visit their loved ones

The residents of Emjindini have raised their concerns regarding the unkempt state and lack of maintenance of the local graveyard.

Nico Sibiya, a community member from Extension 10, said the area needs serious work.

“The area is not safe for the community and it has been neglected for so long. When visiting the area, one struggles to find the grave they are looking for.”

The local municipality has neglected these graveyards. Some of which cannot be seen through the long grass and shrubs.

Some tombstones are broken and there is no fence at the site. The roads in the cemetery are very bad, especially when it rains. This makes it hard for people to drive to where their loved ones have been laid to rest. Family members feel it is unbearable to visit the graves.

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“If the site catches fire, it would be a disaster, because the fire will move very fast due to the long grass and shrubs.

“I wish the municipality would realise how important the area is for those who have loved ones resting there,” said Sibiya.

When Barberton Times visited the premises, a few graves were neat and clean, but most were hidden in long grass. The neat ones were cleaned were by the families that managed to visit.

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At the time of going to press, City of Mbombela Local Municipality had not responded to the enquiry.