These by-laws were brought to the attention of the Herald by the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, after a Brakpan resident complained about decorative items being removed from her loved one’s grave.
Joan van Biljon, who regularly visits the Brakpan Cemetery to tend to her husband Johan’s grave, was shocked to discover that a little white fence, artificial flowers and other items had recently been removed.
The discovery left her extremely upset and angry.
“I’m not sure if it’s vandalism, but I can’t get hold of anyone to find out,” she said.
“If it was the municipality, surely I should have been told about it and not just left to find it in this state?”
According to Lebogang Ramashala, media officer for the metro, the incident was not vandalism, but part of the maintenance programme, as per the municipality’s Cemetery and Crematorium By-laws.
According to these by-laws the following applies:
Gardening and care of graves
* Unless otherwise provided in these by-laws, the council shall be responsible for keeping the cemeteries in a clean and neat condition.
* No gardening is allowed in the berm and grass section.
* No person shall erect, place or leave upon a grave any object or decoration, except during the first 30 days following the internment therein.
* No tree or shrubs may be planted on the graves in any section.
* The cemetery officer or any member of his staff may remove natural or artificial flowers or anything placed on the grave.
* No person shall at the time of the council levelling/grassing any section of a cemetery, hinder the cemetery officer in the execution of his/her duties.
* No soil may be removed from the grave without the consent of the cemetery officer.
Please note that residents have a choice between a full stone and berm section burial before the burial takes place.
The contact numbers for the Brakpan Cemetery are:
* 011 999 8243
* 079 498 7285/079 878 8245/073 158 1089
Rose is the cemetery officer and Basetsana is the cemetery clerk.
