Tshwane cemeteries set for improvement
The poor maintenance of cemeteries was as a result of the termination of service providers due to poor workmanship.
After a long wait and following many complaints, the Pretoria east cemetery is finally receiving attention from the Tshwane metro.
The cemetery has barely been maintained, with overgrown grass, litter and damaged graves.
According to the metro’s region 6 urban management deputy director, Lorraine Maudi, the cemetery was receiving attention and would be kept up to the required standard.
Maudi said the poor maintenance of cemeteries was as a result of the termination of contracts with service providers due to poor workmanship.
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“The appointed Tshepo 10 000 co-operatives were terminated due to poor workmanship rendered.
“Cemeteries are maintained on an ad hoc basis until the city of Tshwane appoints service providers,” she said.
In April, the metro promised to repair and maintain the cemetery after residents complained of berms created over graves, random digging of graves without being covered, sunken graves and graves that were not aligned.
Maudi said some of the problems were caused by heavy rains, adding that work was already underway.
“The issue of sunken graves is a result of rain. It is thus more suitable to have the graves filled in winter when there is less rain. That process has commenced.”
She said there was a block with uncovered graves due to water pipes running underneath.
“The block in question at Pretoria east cemetery is designed differently from other blocks due to water pipes that run underneath, resulting in a number of graves not being dug and used.”
This was one of many cemeteries in the metro that was in a bad condition.
In the west, the Zandfontein cemetery had overgrown grass, litter and vandalism due to a lack of security, similar to the Rebecca Street Cemetery and the old military cemetery in Centurion.
To date, these cemeteries are yet to receive attention.
The Heatherdale Cemetery in Akasia north of Pretoria was said to be attracting criminal activity due to lack of lighting.
The cemetery also had unkept grass, but was kept clean.
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Ward councillor Marnette Sutherland said even though there had not been any major incidents for a while at the cemetery, the area was too dark and needed lighting.
Maudi said all cemeteries had an issue with security personnel due to the metro financial constraints.
She said the metro could only afford to have one guard per cemetery, who in some instances could only work during the day.
She insisted that all cemeteries had security guards.
Sutherland said there would improvements to the Heatherdale cemetery and many others in July.
“Cemeteries are a sacred space for people and serve as a beacon of memories. They are an emotional thing and we cannot ignore them.”
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