Zandfontein cemetery finally cleaned
The Tshwane metro has finally cleaned the cemetery in Zandfontein after months of negligence.
The Zandfontein cemetery in the west of Pretoria has finally been cleaned.
The graveyard had been in a poor state for months with residents complaining not only about the long grass, but the lack of security as well.
They were worried about people gaining access to the cemetery at night.
On Wednesday, Tshwane metro confirmed that its workers had cut the grass and did some repairs.
“The metro can confirm that the cemetery in question is clean and the grass has been cut,” said Tshwane metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo.
Mashigo said the metro’s quest was to maintain its cemeteries properly.
“The only challenge experienced at our cemeteries is littering by community members during weekend funeral services,” said Mashigo.
“The waste management department assists with this on a weekly basis.”
Mashigo said procurement processes were followed to appoint professional service providers to maintain graveyards.
On Tuesday, Democratic Alliance Ward 55 councillor Frik van Wyk said the Tshwane metro had failed to maintain the cemetery for months.
He said rubbish bins were stolen at the cemetery, which made it impossible for visitors to throw away their rubbish.
Van Wyk welcomed the news that the cemetery had been.
“We do appreciate the fact that they took time to collect the rubbish, cut the grass and make the cemetery neat again. It is disrespectful to expect people to visit their loved ones’ graves and find long grass,” said Van Wyk.
“The question I ask the metro is: why does it always takes them this long to fix things.”
In response, the metro said it was doing its best to maintain the graveyard.
Van Wyk said every time there were questions asked about the maintenance, the metro used a lack of money as an excuse.
“Residents can now breathe a sigh of relief because they no longer have to pay (private contractors) to have the graves cleaned.”
Also read:
Zandfontein cemetery neglected again
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