Municipality removes frame from grave
Family was not informed about the removal of frame around grave.
SECUNDA – Ms Susan Biddlecombe is devastated over a frame and pebbles that were removed from her late husband, Mr Albert Biddlecombe’s, grave.
The Echo recently did a story, “Family upset over son’s grave” in the 11 April edition, of the Engelbrecht family who had experienced the same problem with the removal of frames and pebbles from their son’s grave.
According to Ms Biddlecombe, she put the frame around her husband’s grave in September.
“I am very upset that neither the municipality nor the funeral company did not inform me of what I was or was not allowed to do at my husband’s grave.
“I even asked a municipal worker who was in charge at that time, whether grass was going to be planted and he said to me nothing was going to be done at the grave.
“I still said to him I would like to put a frame and pebbles around the grave and his response was that I could do whatever I want,” Ms Biddlecombe said.
She said if she was given the rules by the municipality or the funeral company when her husband was buried, she would not have put the frame up.
“The worst of all is that a municipal worker helped me put the frame and pebbles at my husband’s grave.
“Why did he not tell me then that this was not allowed?”
Ms Biddlecombe spent over R1 300 on the frame and pebbles and said she cleans up her husband’s grave every time she visits it.
“I go to the grave every Sunday and not once was I warned or asked to remove the frame.
“I want to know where is the stuff and who gave them the right to remove it without my knowledge or at least warning me about the removal?
“To discover my husband’s grave the way it looks now is devastating, not only to myself, but to my family and children as well.”
Mr Henry Masango, Marketing and Communications Manager for the Govan Mbeki Municipality, said: “The section that is currently open for burials at the Secunda Cemetery is the landscaped area.
“This section only covers the erection of headstones and not full memorials.
“The section is grassed on the body part of the grave and the placing of pebbles, frames and other objects on graves are in contravention of the applicable by-laws.”
According to Mr Masango, every applicant for a grave is being notified about the conditions applicable before they book a grave for burial.
“Council employees removing the objects on a grave is in line with the said by-laws.
“It is thus disingenuous for anyone to claim ignorance of the said by-law,” Mr Masango said.
