Distraught widower buried in cemetery woes
Over the years, certain graves at the Geduld Cemetery started to cave in due to heavy rainfall, poor maintenance and desecration.

Efforts to maintain the Geduld Cemetery over the past few years remain a battle for the City of Ekurhuleni.
Despite its efforts to clean up the cemetery, more complaints have poured in over the past months about the poor maintenance of the graveyard.
A Strubenvale resident, who recently lost his wife, was left distraught after discovering that he could not bury her in an area he had reserved several years ago.
Ward 74 Clr Thulani Simelane said metro employees at the cemetery could not dig the grave as a tree was blocking the way for the TLB and the tree was too big for them to cut it down manually on time.
“It’s been 30 years of visiting the cemetery and every year has gotten worse,” said the Strubenvale resident.
“I could not bury my wife in our family’s grave due to the lack of maintenance. To say the least, I wish I had the finances to exhume my late family and have them cremated.
“It’s not safe and it’s in very terrible condition. This has made it unpleasant to visit our loved ones.”
Simelane noted that the heavy rainfall in the past weeks also contributed to the issue.
“The only option was for him to purchase another space at the Petersfield Cemetery. It didn’t sit well with the family, but due to time constraints, they had to go with the option they had left,” he said.
Simelane said that the metro has started to enlist the services of a contractor who will be responsible for ongoing maintenance at the cemeteries.

“The contractors have started cutting grass at cemeteries in Benoni, Brakpan and Tsakani and will be making their way to Springs,” Simelane said.
“They are decluttering their depots. However, the challenge that they currently face is the rain, but I am hopeful that the cemetery will be attended to.
“It’s shocking how people have started creating illegal dumping and a place for illegal activities at the cemetery.”
Simelane added that the metro had intended to upkeep the cemetery, but due to insufficient funds, it may not be possible but it is reprioritising to keep the cemetery clean and well maintained.