SEBOKENG.- Residents and farmers at the Rietspruit/Kaalfontein plots are angry about a newly opened cemetery that they claim is illegal.

The burial ground is located on the road to Fochville, just outside Westsidepark, and falls under the authority of the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM).

Local farmers state that the site is on land designated for agriculture under local land use management and argue that a proposed cemetery in the area was previously closed by the municipality in 2008 after being flagged around 2005.

The community is concerned about severe water contamination because the area has a high underground water table and residents rely entirely on borehole water. They say that no environmental studies were carried out, they were never consulted, and the municipality has ignored their written letters.

A burial was witnessed taking place during a visit by Sedibeng Ster last week.

The residents emphasise that the location is a declared agricultural hub and believe the municipality has no right to violate its use simply because they purchased unsuitable land.

There are no plans to install municipal water pipes for us!

Residents further claim that there are no plans to install municipal water pipes for them.

“The area itself is an Agri hub area, having been declared so during the time of Mosunkutu as an MEC for Agriculture. That status remains, and the municipality has no right to violate the use simply because they bought unsuitable land,” the residents said.

ELM spokesperson, Makhosonke Sangweni, denies these claims, saying that the land belongs to the municipality.

The municipality began using the Rietspruit Cemetery in August 2026 due to water table challenges in Vanderbijlpark and space issues at other cemeteries.

He further explained that the municipality began using the Rietspruit Cemetery in August 2026 due to water table challenges in Vanderbijlpark and space issues at other cemeteries, following the publication of a formal notice.

Sangweni adds that all studies were already completed at the time of purchase of the land; hence, Environmental Authorisation was issued.

“Public Participation happened at the point of rezoning application, plus at the point of application for Environmental Authorisation, plus before opening of the cemetery. The cemetery was never closed; it just went through a process of sale,” Sangweni concluded.