Scottburgh and Park Rynie cemeteries are a grave concern

Many of the graves are obscured, if not by grass, then by bush.

April 16, 2019

Vanisha Moodley 1 minute read

Park Rynie cemetery with its overgrown grass obscuring the headstones.

The Scottburgh and Park Rynie cemeteries are in a sorry state, and are looking neglected and uncared for.

At the Park Rynie cemetery, the grass is so overgrown that headstones and crosses placed at graves are all but hidden, making it difficult for visitors to identify their loved one’s final resting place.

“I have family buried here, but sadly, as time passes, we are finding it more and more difficult to pinpoint where my grandmother and uncle are buried because of the overgrown grass,” said one Park Rynie resident.

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN: 80 graves vandalised at Jewish cemetery in France

Many of the graves are obscured, if not by grass, then by bush.

There have been a number of break-ins at Park Rynie homes recently, and this overgrowth may also act as a hideout for criminals. Some time ago, a housebreaker fled after committing the crime and hid in the bushy cemetery before he was caught.

The situation at Scottburgh is very similar.

One of the biggest problems faced at this cemetery in recent times was the number of drug users who loitered there and vandalised the tombstones and the Wall of Remembrance.

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN: Scottburgh drug users are smoking dead people’s ashes

While this situation seems to have improved, there is still plenty of overgrown grass, tons of mosquitoes and several fallen trees and branches strewn across graves.

Pathways have become obscured and some headstones and memorials have been damaged by the falling foliage.

The general unsightliness is made worse by overflowing rubbish bins which dispense their contents – including food packaging, plastic bags and bottles – onto graves.

Umdoni Municipality was contacted for comment.