Irene concentration camp cemetery now a popular community hang out

Service delivery difficulties in Tshwane have led to what can only be described as a sustainable collaboration by community members with one common goal to preserve Centurion’s parks.

The rich and interesting history that is the Irene concentration camp cemetery grounds is now a beautiful, safe and youthful environment where families and people from all over enjoy the beautiful scenery.

The cemetery is located on Stopford Road inside the Irene security estate.

Former Irene resident Leon Lucas took it upon himself to privately clean up, maintain and preserve what was left of the Irene concentration camp site in 2015.

His goal was to reinvest in its historical value after he realised that the site was not being maintained by the municipality back then.

“I built benches and members of the community and entrepreneurs donated several indigenous trees to the site. I had my own gardener clean up the grounds and together with other member of the community, we built an eye-popping heritage site you see today,” said Lucas who has since moved to the Western Cape with his family.

Lucas also maintained the grass and gardens and has installed a garbage bin which he says has drastically reduced the amount of litter in the cemetery.

“When my family decided to move, I knew that I had to hand the grounds over to someone with the same sense of respect towards our heritage and someone I knew would take good care of what I had just worked so hard to build up again.”

Visitors to the site can also be brought in, thanks to the efforts of Petrus Bredell and his family who own a coffee business called Plato Coffee.

“We have a strong sense of respect for our beautiful parks in Pretoria. We now maintain the park and have gardeners who clean and look after the graves on a permanent basis. On average, the concentration camp cemetery sees approximately 7 000 people visit in a month now.”

Ward councillor Gert Visser said that it was important not only for the community to do their part but also individuals.

“When individuals do their part to take care of their heritage and to clean up their environment then we can accomplish so much more,” Visser said.

If you are a community member looking for a clean, safe space to walk your dogs, play with your children, drink a lovely cup of coffee or just an Anglo Boere-oorlog (Second Boer War) enthusiast, make your way to the Irene concentration camp cemetery heritage site.

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