Locals urged to save Pretoria east cemetery through CUP initiative
The initiative aims to maintain, beautify and build a wall on the western side of the cemetery for safety purposes.
Residents and private stakeholders have been invited to join the Community Upliftment Precinct (CUP) initiative to save the Pretoria east cemetery on Matt Street, Pretorius Park from ruin.
The CUP will entail maintenance, beautifying and building a wall to the west of the cemetery for the safety of visitors.
Ward 101 councillor Malcolm de Klerk said safety concerns and maintenance issues have sparked the need for this partnership.
“We call upon private partnerships to assist the city with building a wall on the western side of the cemetery to make it safer and more exclusive for mourners,” said De Klerk.
He said dwellers in the Cemetery View informal settlement have allegedly harassed visitors.
He further called upon landscapers and funeral homes to partner through the CUP to take over general upkeep to maintain an excellent standard of the cemetery.
Residents have been complaining about maintenance, citing overgrown grass and litter.
De Klerk however said city financial constraints don’t allow for the needed regular maintenance.
“But when resources and time allow, the officials and administration attend to the upkeep of the cemetery,” he said.
The cemetery was cleaned on the first week of June following an influx of community complaints.
“When there’s capacity and availability of machines and workers, they are spread between the other cemeteries in Region 6 like Heatherly and Eersterust.”
He said anyone interested in saving the cemetery can contact him at [email protected].
Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the frequency of cleaning the Pretoria east cemetery is dependent on the budget, “notwithstanding this factor, the city strives to keep this facility clean”.
Mashigo said litter pickers are on site daily to clean.
“However grass-cutting recently took place on Wednesday, June 4. Litter picking occurs daily.”
He said regular inspections and security checks would be done.
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