Grave robbers apprehended by Vryheid SAPS

THERE is much that was said of those who disrespectfully desecrated the burial places of the deceased, very little of which can be published.

The previous Monday night, as many were indoors in an attempt to escape the torrential downpour and inclement weather, there were those who chose to go about stealing iron embellishments from the graves of the dead in Vryheid Cemetery.

The following morning, after destroying the graves of several of Vryheid’s long deceased former residents, two suspects were apprehended in East Street with the stolen loot in their possession after police received a tip off and responded.

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The two men were found to be in possession of cast iron embellishments, unmistakably taken from the graveyard.

“They don’t even make this type of metal for gravesites anymore,” points out Warrant Officer Chris van Eck. “So this cannot even be replaced…”

Warrant Officer van Eck, who has been a resident of Vryheid his whole life, finds this type of criminal activity utterly disgraceful.

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Accompanied by André van Ellinckhuyzen, who has a vast knowledge of the cemetery following several years of research, and Keith Sparrow, who has spearheaded several campaigns to clean up the neglected cemetery, W/O Van Eck wanders through the graveyard and solemnly points out where the graves have been pillaged by the thieves in order to remove the iron and metal. It is believed that the suspects were on their way to a scrap metal dealer to exchange their ill-gotten spoils for cash.

Which raises the question, if there was no market for these stolen goods, would they still steal so brazenly from the dead?

Is poverty really an excuse to desecrate graves and, if so, who is to blame? Is it the thieves or the dealers who willingly buy their stolen merchandise? Tell us how you feel, send your comments to editorialvhd@caxton.co.za