Ninapark Cemetery becomes a difficult site to navigate, due to overgrown grass – resident
The metro has acknowledged the poor condition of the cemetery, admitting that it is aware of the issue and says it is working to secure resources to restore it.
The Ninapark Cemetery in Pretoria North has become a discomforting sight for visitors to the burial site, as it continues to suffer from lack of maintenance.
The cemetery is riddled with overgrown grass, untrimmed vegetation, and general neglect.
Graves are hidden under tall grass, and pathways between plots are no longer easily accessible.
Families who visit the cemetery to pay their respects to loved ones are met with a neglected environment, adding to the emotional distress of their loss.
Tshwane metro has acknowledged the poor condition of the cemetery, admitting it is aware of the issue and working to secure resources to restore it.
However, community members feel the metro’s response has been slow and insufficient, leaving the cemetery in an unpleasant state for too long.
Visitor to the cemetery, Joyce Ramabu, said the overgrown grass and vegetation had made the site difficult to navigate and unsightly.
“I visit my sister’s grave every month, but lately, it’s been impossible to find her tombstone because of the grass.
“It’s heartbreaking to see the cemetery in this state and it feels like the metro just doesn’t care.”
According to metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo, grass cutting at cemeteries is the responsibility of the municipality, and they are trying to address the problem.
He said the recent excess rainfall in Pretoria has made maintenance more challenging, as grass and vegetation grow more rapidly than usual, overwhelming the team responsible for upkeep.
“Cemeteries are typically maintained every month, with the Heatherdale Cemetery, which also serves the area, included in this routine.
“The combination of heavy rainfall and limited resources has stretched the metro’s maintenance team thin, making it difficult to keep up with the grass-cutting schedule.”
Grass cutting at Heatherdale Cemetery#TshwaneAtWork pic.twitter.com/Kep8pRCVcy
— City of Tshwane (@CityTshwane) February 4, 2025
Mashigo said the municipality’s parks and horticulture team has been unable to fully discharge its planned maintenance duties due to the volume of overgrown vegetation across multiple sites.
He said this has resulted in delays, with maintenance falling behind schedule in various regions, including Pretoria North.
While the metro has tried to mitigate the issue with spot maintenance as needed, the backlog caused by the rainfall has proven to be too much for the resources available.
The metro is now working to secure additional support to bring the cemetery back to an acceptable standard.
“We are also collaborating with the Community Upliftment Precinct (CUP), a local initiative that has offered donations and assistance in some areas. It has not yet fully alleviated the issues at Ninapark Cemetery, where the backlog of maintenance tasks remains significant.”
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