From bad to worse for Greenhills cemetery
A resident raised major concern after visiting his parents' graves due to the unkempt state of the Greenhills Cemetery.

A family member is ashamed to visit his parents’ final resting place at the Greenhills Cemetery due to its shocking state.
Ben James explained the cemetery poses many issues ranging from safety to neglect. He noted he is afraid to visit his parents’ graves, as on the opposite side of the road there are overgrown bushes where criminals can easily hide. He mentioned there had been an incident where people were robbed inside the cemetery.
“This is the last place I can visit my parents. This is where I said goodbye, it is a special place. Now I feel unsafe to come here,” said James.

He added in those very bushes there are also graves. The rest of the cemetery is also unkempt with overgrown grass and trees. James further mentioned some of the graves had fallen in and some of the tombstones had been stolen.
“It is shocking, people’s loved ones are here and it feels as though no one cares.”

Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM) spokesperson Phillip Montshiwa commented, “Notwithstanding being slightly overgrown with long grass and trees it is fairly safe for the general public to visit municipal cemeteries. No incident of robbery, theft, or personal attack that is alleged to have taken place in a municipal cemetery was reported to the RWLM in the last three years.”
He also advised people visiting cemeteries to do so in groups between late morning and late afternoon and to report to security personnel where provided.

“The RWLM has prioritised to complete grass cutting at cemeteries in March, allocate adequate security guards, and repair damaged fences and guardhouses. All these interventions seek to offer better protection to cemetery visitors, gravestones and other cemetery-related infrastructure,” he added.
He continued, “Varying cultural beliefs and practices preclude the RWCLM from backfilling sunken graves … furthermore, only one incident of theft of a gravestone was recorded in the last three years. These incidents are few and far between.”

Another concern raised by James is the housing structures that are being occupied by the homeless, instead of being used for what it is intended.
Montshiwa stated the ‘residential cottages at cemeteries were established to house municipal employees’. He noted these cottages are preferably leased to workers at the cemetery, however, other municipal workers can also lease these properties.
“Persons attempting to occupy these properties without a valid lease agreement are evicted as and when trying to do so. This also applies to would-be vagrants,” said Montshiwa.