“It is beyond sad and disheartening to know that people no longer fear the church, and that people see a place of worship as yet another unused building they can make money off, ” were the words of St Matthew’s Anglican priest, Father Khumalo.

He then approached the property agents to enquire whether Ms McComb, who lives on the property had employed someone to attended to her yard’s maintenance, he was told this was not so.”My daughter made me aware of this strange man sleeping in the graveyard, and after seeing him there she informed Father Khumalo,” said Ms McComb.

“My brand new mini braai stand was stolen as well as my daughter’s pink push scooter,” added a very upset Ms McComb.She added that if anyone knows the whereabouts of these items to kindly contact her on 071 296 3830.
The key items that appear missing to Father Khumalo, are the vases from the Garden of Remembrance and the tenant’s braai stand.

Father Khumalo said that the man who previously maintained the graveyard left the country and they have not found a replacement yet. The graves are desecrated and the tombstones are vandalised and no one visits the cemetery any longer. The overgrown grass at the graveyard made it the prefect hiding place for the man.

The man, who is still unknown, slept in the graveyard on cardboard boxes, which he laid over one of the graves.
Surrounding the grave was an empty pack of condoms and approximately 25 empty cans of glue as well as an empty box of matches and an empty cigarette box.

On Friday October 3, the police went to St Matthews with the man that has been staying at the church, without Father Khumalo’s go ahead.On their arrival the police asked Father Khumalo whether a couple of metal tressels and plastic chairs belonged to the church, as they found the man with the items in his possession.

Father Khumalo at the time had been conversing with the church body to find an appropriate way to deal with the man, who has not only made the church yard his home without permission but has been stealing from the church as well.The police told Father Khumalo that the man would be arrested once they left the church premises.
The man then showed the police and Father Khumalo where he had been sleeping.

Whilst doing that, the man alerted the police of a stone on a grave behind the one he slept on, where he hid money that he had allegedly stolen.Father Khumalo would like to thank the police for acting efficiently, as well as the members of the church for keeping the matter in their prayers.

The church body has decided to re-fence the church-yard.Father Khumalo also suggested that after church service on a Sunday, a few members can inspect the graveyard, the Garden of Remembrance as well as the church yard.The police did not respond to an enquiry at the time of going to print.