Muslim burial site in Alra Park desecrated
The Muslim Cemetery next to Jim Fouché Park in Hendrik Verwoerd Street has been in existence for nearly 120 years.
Many pioneer Muslims from the local community have been laid to rest in the historic graveyard, but when a local Muslim family visited the cemetery following the customs of the sacred day of Eid on June 15 to pay their respects, they discovered that not one, but all the metal identification boards have been removed – presumably stolen to sell as scrap metal.
Muslim graves are traditionally kept simple and no tombstones are permitted. The only means to identify loved ones’ graves is by a metal plate that contains the necessary information.
During a visit to the cemetery on June 22, HERAUT noted with concern that although the graveyard is well kept and enclosed with palisade fencing, the gate was unlocked and there was no sign of any security guard.
City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) spokesperson Temba Gadebe was not available for comment, but according to DA councillor Wollaston Labuschagne, the cemetery is rarely used nowadays as a result of reached capacity.
He added that although most Muslim burials are now performed at the Alrapark Cemetery (which is guarded 24/7) the CoE has recently erected some mast lights to accommodate Islamic rites such as evening burials and other customs at the cemetery in Nigel.
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