Estcourt man robbed and assaulted during a visit to the cemetery

Sinister activities are being reported at the cemeteries in Estcourt.  What should be a place of respect and peace has some residents warning “don’t go there alone, it’s not safe”. 

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An Estcourt father can attest to this after he was attacked at knife-point and robbed at a cemetery on Mother’s Day. After visiting his son’s grave at the cemetery in Bank Road, the resident went to pay his respects at his mother’s gravesite in Keate Street.

While placing flowers in water at the grave, the man noticed three adult males approaching.

“They told me they wanted to clean the grave, but I pointed out that it didn’t need cleaning. I knew something was wrong,” said the resident. His hunch was spot-on.

“Three more men came and before I knew it, there were about eight or nine people surrounding me. They grabbed my hands and threw me onto the ground. Two of them had knives; one was pushed against my head and the other against my neck,” he further explained.

While lying helpless on the ground, pleading for his life, the men searched his pockets.

“They took R940 cash, cigarettes, and my van keys. I begged them not to hurt me. After they had released me, they threw the keys in the bush. It took me a while to find the keys, because I was quite shaken up,” described the resident.

The gang of men fled towards Alfred Street. Fortunately, the man was not injured, but he was disappointed when he was advised by police officers that apprehending criminals at the cemetery is difficult.

“They told me the grass is too long and people get away. The municipality is not doing anything though. Security needs to be increased because there is theft from people and vehicles. It is just terrible,” said the disappointed resident.

He also remarked that flowers and pot plants are being stolen from grave sites. Another resident who recently lost her son also reported theft. Her husband regularly visits the cemetery in Bank Road and was perturbed to find that a large number of steel grave markers had been stolen last Thursday.

“More than 50 of those metal tags were stolen; even the wooden stakes were taken. If people are visiting the cemetery, they wouldn’t know which grave site was their loved one’s. How could someone do that?” commented the resident, adding that the cemetery is becoming a dangerous place to visit.

These concerns and comments have been relayed to Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality and the police for investigation and comment.

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