Vandals wreak havoc in cemetery in eMbalenhle
“My son is buried there. I noticed damages on the tombstones of mostly children's graves,” said a distraught mother.
Residents were shocked when they, on January 26, discovered damage at some graves at the Ext 14 cemetery.
Some residents went to the gravesite after someone circulated a video on social media about the damage to the graves.
Ridge Times found more than 100 graves and tombstones damaged during a visit to the cemetery.
Someone removed items such as crosses and identification boards and threw them all over the gravesite.
Maria Mthunzi, a community member, was stunned when her neighbour informed her on Sunday morning about the graves and told her to rush to the gravesite.
“My son is buried there. I noticed damages on the tombstones of mostly children’s graves,” said this distraught mother.
“What did the people responsible for this destruction get out of it? Our loved ones whom we had buried there are no longer at peace,” cried Mthunzi.
She said the community and the municipality must meet to find a solution to prevent such carnage.
“The municipality alone could not solve the problem.”
Doctor Thanjekwayo said his father’s tombstone was also damaged, which deeply troubled his family.
Thanjekwayo said it is questionable what is happening to the Ext 14 graveyard.
“Tombstones are expensive; then someone just damages it. We must act against these criminals. They have no respect for the dead”.
