Thieves steal tombstones at Vanderbijlpark Cemetery

VANDERBIJLPARK.- There is no end in sight for crime or vandalism in our area.
Families were left speechless when they arrived to clean the graves of their loved ones at the Vanderbijlpark Cemetery recently.
They were met by empty spaces where the flat tombstones beds used to be after thieves had stolen them.
An angry Moses Mohlabane from Sebokeng said each stolen tombstone he erected represents a huge some of money.
“This excludes the money spent on the funeral service. The level of any community can be measured by how it treats its dead,” he said.
Mohlabane further said that South Africa has evidently reached a stage where selling the flat section of tombstones is acceptable. How the flat tombstones portions are unearthed still remains a mystery. Other community members pointed out that its about time funeral parlours are investigated by the police. Daniel Nthongwa could also not believe his eyes when he arrived to clean the grave of his relative recently.
“I was met with an area like a dusty soccer field,” he said.
Emfuleni Local Municipality Municipal (ELM) Manager (MM), Dithabe Nkoane has reacted with shock and dismay that there are criminals who rob bereaved families of tombstones of their loved ones. “Cemeteries are place of peace. It is unfortunate that criminals syndicates are working to disturb our dead, preventing them from sleeping in peace.
“The By-Laws Unit will work closely with Police to monitor cemeteries to send a clear message to would be criminals that such destruction of grave will not be tolerated,” he said