Ward 100 cleans historical gravesites
“Over time, headstones or memorials become worn down, discoloured, and even broken. They get caked in dirt, lichen, and other environmental debris.”
An expert was called in to help clean the tombstones at historical gravesites in Cullinan.
Sakkie du Plooy, a councillor in the City of Tshwane and a former chaplain who later worked in several government departments, is guiding the councillor for Ward 100, Johannes Bekker, and his team in renovating these headstones.
According to Bekker, restoring the historical sites is part of the tourism activity plans for the town.
Bekker met with Du Plooy last Wednesday, and they visited the original Cullinan Cemetery, the Military Cemetery and the Italian prisoners of war cemetery (Zonderwater Italian Military Cemetery).
Many of the tombstones had degraded over the years for various reasons.
Degradation can be caused by soil splashing, pollution, rusted bolts or other metal features, bird droppings, and berries or sap dropping onto the stones.
Biological growth, such as algae, lichen, and moss, could cover the surface, causing the stone to decay and making reading it difficult.
“Over time, like most things, headstones or memorials become worn down, discoloured, and even broken. They get caked in dirt, lichen, and other environmental debris.
“If headstones or memorials are left unmaintained, the lettering can become worn to the point where it is no longer legible.
“These gravestones need to be regularly cleaned and restored to ensure our upcoming generations can continue to pay respect to their ancestors,” explained Bekker.
“Our aim is not to make any of these graves look new. Even the most careful technique could accelerate deterioration or cause loss of original material.
“While you can clean an old gravestone yourself, we do not recommend it.”
Bekker said a professional would ensure a headstone was not damaged during cleaning or restoration, using special tools, cleaning solutions and careful cleaning techniques.
According to him, most families choose headstones or memorials comprising natural stones, such as sandstone, granite, and marble.
“However, for many years, limestone and sandstone were the most popular materials for crafting headstones or monuments.
“They are softer materials to carve and, as a result, most headstones require extreme care when cleaning.
“Unfortunately, these headstones also wear away much faster and are liable to crack in extreme weather conditions,” said Bekker.
“We will organise tourism activities to our cemetery once these graves are restored to their well-deserved glory.
“We want to offer a variety of activities for every tourist and will continue to add value to the Cullinan Tourism Hub,” concluded Bekker.
