Charmaine Terblanche, a Primrose resident, is worried about the poor state of the Primrose Cemetery and accused the City of Ekurhuleni of poor maintenance.

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Terblanche raised her concerns after she visited the cemetery on January 23 as part of her usual routine of visiting the cemetery to put flowers on her granddaughter’s grave every Sunday after church.

“As a regular visitor to the cemetery, I have noticed the poor maintenance at the cemetery. There is overgrown grass and the weeds make it difficult to walk through everything to our granddaughter’s grave.

“The state of that cemetery raises great concern. As a taxpayer, it worries me,” said Terblanche.

“Graves are vandalised continuously.”

Ward 36 Clr Wendy Morgan said the department responsible for the maintenance of the cemetery has indicated that the cutting of the grass will begin in February.

“No budget has been allocated for the maintenance of the cemetery,” said Morgan.

She condemned vandalism at cemeteries.

GCN has on numerous occasions reported on residents’ concerns about this cemetery.

In September, cemetery supervisor Cynthia Dlamini, said vandalisation of tombstones worsened over the years.

Morgan urged residents to respect the final resting place of others.

“I think it is sad that there is no respect for people in their resting place. There is so much history in the Primrose Cemetery, dating back almost 120 years,” she said.

“Imagine a family member visiting a grave and the tombstone has been destroyed. It is heartbreaking to think how there is no respect for property.”

The GCN sent a request for comment to CoE, questioning budget allocation for maintenance and security measures at the cemetery, on January 26.

Comment was requested by January 28 at 10:00. At the time of going to print, no comment had been received.