No respect! Arsonists target Middelburg Cemetery
An Observer journalist investigated the scene and found over 10 trees had fallen victim to flames, and large swaths of grass had been burnt.
The Middelburg Cemetery in Mineralia has been the victim of multiple arson attacks over the past several weeks.
Concerned resident Donovan Carstens notified the Middelburg Observer that several trees have been burnt over the past five weeks.
An Observer journalist investigated the scene and found over 10 trees had fallen victim to flames, and large swaths of grass had been burnt.
Speaking to groundskeepers at the graveyard, they stated that they are not responsible for fires and that the incidents are taking place at night and over weekends when staff are not present.
The groundskeepers urge the culprits to stop, as in addition to being disrespectful to those that are laid to rest there, they are concerned that a fire could spread that would severely damage the municipally controlled property.
Donovan said, “My father and I walk through the cemetery every day, so we noticed immediately when we saw a tree had been burnt. We realised it was a larger issue when we started to find ash, soot and pieces of the trees in our garden, and trust me, it’s a real issue to clean it all up.”
