VEREENIGING – After a year of anguish following the vandalism and their grave mix-up, the Raditselas can now sleep in peace knowing their problems are over.
This is after the Emfuleni Local Municipality resolved the Moshoane-Raditsela grave headache.
On November 12, the Raditsela family together with officials from the municipality erected the family’s headstone in the right place.
All thanks to Baba Andrew Raditsela’s endless grievance raising to the municipality.
Earlier this year, Ster published a story of distraught and fury when the Raditselas complained to the paper about their grave mess.
Ster sent endless inquiries for answers to the municipality in an attempt to end the daunting crisis without luck.
When employees of the municipality visited Vereeniging Civic Theater during an IDP meeting, Baba Raditsela raised his problem. It was solved in a few weeks.
At the time, the Raditselas detailed their drama to Ster, claiming in August last year, the Moshoanes queried their grave after they found a tombstone belonging to Elizabeth Raditsela at grave number C169, which they believe belonged to them after they were issued the same number as a ‘dummy number’ in 2009.
According to the Raditselas, the Moshoanes were permitted to remove the tombstone after they were told that C169 was their father’s grave.
In one meeting held at the municipal offices between the two families and the municipality, ELM Cemeteries, and Parks agreed to have made the mix-up and offered the Raditsela’s repatriation funds and promised to replace their tombstone.
On December 6, 2023, the Raditselas received a letter refuting their statement made during the meeting and now claiming they are not at fault for destroying their tombstone, but the Moshoanes.
Speaking to the paper following the erection of the headstone, Andrew Raditsela said he was happy that they got assistance.
“There isn’t much to say, except sharing the joy. We are thankful that our problem is solved, although it had to take the municipality some chasing around,” he said.
