Graves left unattended for decades
There are a few hundred unmarked graves in the bushes off Murdoch Road.
There are a few hundred unmarked graves in the bushes off Murdoch Road. The graves are suspected to be from the 1940s and are only identifiable because of the rocks on them.
According to former Springs mayor Gert Parsons, the graves could be of former miners working during the town’s heydays.
“I have made some recommendations about this area to the metro. At the very least, the area can be fenced off, and a memorial built in honour of these souls,” he said.
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Parsons believes the miners had been patients from the nearby mine hospital. It is unclear whether the families of those buried are aware of the location of the graves.
Thulane Simelane, councillor of Ward 74, says he welcomes Parsons’ recommendations and will consult with the metro on how to move forward.
“There is no resolution about what will happen to the graves at the moment. But I am committed to ensuring a way forward for the dignity of these people,” he said.
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