Families urged to visit graves regularly
Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) urges families to regularly visit graves of their loved ones due to reports of sunken graves.
The Roodepoort Record recently reported on sunken graves and vandalism in the old Roodepoort cemetery. In response to this, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) is urging families to regularly visit the graves of their loved ones, especially now during the rainy season.
These reports are only limited to the old Roodepoort cemetery, but cemeteries in the greater Roodepoort region, including Florida, new Roodepoort, Horizon View, Panorama and Roodepoort Muslim could also experience the same.
• Also read: Historic graves vandalised and neglected at Roodepoort cemetery
According to a statement sent to the Roodepoort Record by JCPZ spokesperson Jenny Moodley, JCPZ staff and contractors may only refill sunken graves once permission is granted by the families.
“Grave subsidence, or sinking, occurs when the soil settles and pockets of air are released over time. The presence of water due to heavy rain and soil erosion exacerbates the process, leading to considerable sinkage of graves.
“Families are urged to heed the call and come forward to restore the dignity of their loved ones. The sinking of graves is at the surface level between 10 cm and 50 cm,” stated Azola Manjati, manager for Cemeteries and Crematoria at JCPZ. According to the statement, JCPZ is still exploring solutions to avoid the phenomenon of sunken graves during the rainy season.
Additionally, more alternative burials are now available and common in the City of Johannesburg.
Families are encouraged to choose the following methods:
• Standard first burials: New grave allocated to the family of the deceased
• Second Interments – second and third burials: Available to family members, who choose to bury one or two additional family members in the same grave
• Reduction burials: Involve the exhumation of remains into a small coffin, which is then reburied, allowing for more burial space in the same location
• Cremation: A family receives the ashes of the deceased and decides how to best honour the memory of their dearly departed thereafter
JCPZ says families of loved ones laid to rest in cemeteries, must be aware that any enhancements to graves of loved ones and maintenance remain the sole responsibility of families and that compliance of by-laws, must strictly be adhered to.
