Community members were horrified on Saturday afternoon when a sewage leak was discovered near the entrance of the Dundee Cemetery in Colley Street — just as families arrived to bury their loved ones.
The foul odour and visible effluent created an unbearable scene, prompting outrage among mourners.

“It’s absolutely sad! We are living and suffering here, and now even our loved ones who have passed on must bear this,” said resident Vicky Pallad, who was at the cemetery on Saturday.
“I was embarrassed that my family from Johannesburg had to see this unpleasant situation. It has been going on for weeks and was previously reported.”

Residents raise alarm over neglect

Locals have also voiced concern about the general neglect of the cemetery, citing long grass, rampant blackjacks, and livestock grazing freely among the graves, particularly on weekends.
Some warned that the soft, muddy soil caused by the leak could compromise graves and damage tombstones.

Ward Councillor Naresh Gopie described the conditions as “filthy, inhumane, and simply unacceptable — especially when such situations are witnessed by visitors and tourists.”

Following queries by the Courier, Umzinyathi District Municipality — responsible for water and sanitation — confirmed that a team was dispatched on Monday to assess and address the spill.

Residents have urged the municipality to implement lasting repairs and ensure regular maintenance, saying the dignity and respect of the town’s final resting place must be restored.

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Graveyard neglect raises the ire of residents