Gone and forgotten – resident’s frustrations grow over lack of cemetery maintenance
“This is the most dreadful thing I’ve ever seen,” says disgruntled Pretoria West resident, Gert Stander.
A lack of maintenance at the Zandfontein cemetery in Pretoria has outraged residents.
“This is the most dreadful thing I’ve ever seen,” said disgruntled Pretoria West resident, Gert Stander.
The elderly pensioner buried his father in Zandfontein cemetery when he passed a few years ago.
Stander had to bury his mother next to his father in January, only to find the cemetery in “a terrible condition”.
“This is what we vote for. They tell us to vote for this party, vote for that party but the result is the same either way. No party is doing anything to address this,” said Stander.
“The grass is allowed to grow shoulder-length high, in some cases completely covering the graves and tombstones, rendering the grave identification numbers unusable.”
Stander and some fellow residents resolved to bring their own weed whackers and tools to cut down the tall grass leading to the pensioner’s father’s burial spot, in preparation for the arrival of his mother.
“Imagine having to visit one of your family members in a space like this. Some may say that I’m overreacting but I believe this is not right. This has nothing to do with race either, it’s everyone’s problem, it affects all of us,” Stander continued.
Among other complaints is the lack of perimeter fencing around the premises, leaving the graves open for vandalism and theft.
Mourners are falling victim to criminals that use the tall grass as coverage for their attacks, staff members have not been paid in months, and non-disposal of grass on the occasions that it is cut.
A water pipe has also burst that hasn’t been fully repaired since it occurred eight months ago.
The metro, however, is disputing the claims made by Stander and other residents, stating that the cemetery grounds are regularly maintained just like other cemeteries in the metro.
“Grass at cemeteries is maintained monthly. The service provider commenced on January 17 2023. It’s only other property maintenance work which excludes grass cutting that is done as and when required. There are also staff members on-site to assist with grave identification and any other complaints each day of the week,” said metro spokesperson, Lindela Mashigo.
Mashigo also stated that the grass when cut, is sent to the city refuse sites for disposal and that high amounts of rainfall during the summer season have contributed to the grass growing faster.
“Due to the size of the cemetery, it is possible that other areas are not cut yet. It will take at least three weeks to complete. EPWP beneficiaries will be assigned in February 2023,” Mashigo said.
“The Department of Environmental Management has the budget for monthly cuts.”
It was also confirmed that the department has no plans of erecting any fencing around the cemetery.
“The Department of Environmental Management does not have the budget for this and community members continuously vandalise the fencing.”
The metro also refutes claims of not paying employees, stating that they earn salaries and enough will be recruited to deal with the large size of the area.
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