The lamentable and sorry state of Roy Point Cemetery

The cemetery is overgrown with grass and quipped residents visiting the cemetery should bring their own brush trimmers.

May 29, 2019

Bruce Douglas 1 minute read

No respect for the dead at Roy Point Cemetery.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

If this adage is indeed true, a prime example of it would be Roy Point Cemetery, with residents complaining yet again about the lack of dignity afforded to their loved ones. One resident took to social media to air frustration on behalf of a friend.

According to the Facebook post, there were no pathways between the graves.

The cemetery is overgrown with grass and quipped residents visiting the cemetery should bring their own brush trimmers.

A visit to the cemetery validated these claims, with some areas are almost entirely smothered beneath grass and overgrowth, while empty alcohol bottles suggest Roy Point Cemetery is used by revellers after hours.

These concerns were sent by email to Newcastle Municipality.

In a formal response, Head of Communications, Dr Dumisani Thabethe said the municipality was working according to a cutting cycle in and around Newcastle, when it came to cemetery maintenance.

“Some of the graves are on land owned by [a trust]. Therefore as council, we only cut strips or fire breaks and thus encourage the responsible families to cut for themselves, since we have no jurisdiction over that land.”

Responding to a suggestion to have residents screened, or at least sign in before entering the cemetery grounds, the municipality said this was welcomed.