Relatives of the interred and visitors to the Brakpan Cemetery can anticipate great changes at the final resting place within the next few months, as work to expand and upgrade the grounds recently started.
News of the upgrade has been welcomed by Brandon Pretorius, the Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor for Ward 97 in Brakpan – the area in which the cemetery is situated.
The lack of maintenance and overall poor state of the cemetery has been a sensitive issue for years, causing emotional anguish for those with loved ones buried there.
“It has been a continuous fight since I was elected in 2016, but over the past months the cemetery has shown some positive changes with regards to general maintenance,” he said.
“The DA has been fighting for this upgrade through our Integrated Development Plan (IDP) wish list and the wish has finally been granted after years of pleading.”
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Pretorius told the Herald he met with the contractor recently and earth-moving work has already started at the cemetery.
A new wall is also being erected near Hofmeyer Street.
“The wall indicates the size that will be gained by this expansion,” said Pretorius.
The councillor explained the upgrade will be primarily for the expansion of the cemetery.
“The paving of pathways, landscaping, the erection of a memorial wall and lots more will be done to ensure an improved, cleaner cemetery with new rubbish bins to accommodate visitors,” he said.
Regarding the contractor’s work, Pretorius gave his assurance that everything possible would be done to ensure value for money and top quality.
“We also note the sentimental value attached to a cemetery and it is therefore that we will keep on applying pressure to ensure the cemetery is always in the best condition it can be.”
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