Entities clean cemetry in Vosloorus

After residents lodged various complaints with the Vosloorus CPF and the SAPS about the shabby state of Isaac Scotty Nyashengo Cemetery in Vosloorus, the station and multiple stakeholders took it upon themselves to clean on September 30.

The effort was part of a campaign initiated in July by the Department of Correctional Services.

The stakeholders included parolees from Pretoria and Vosloorus, MASP and WASP, Vosloorus Green Door, Youth Desk, Ekurhuleni City Parks, Correctional Services from Boksburg, Kgosi Mampuru, Soshanguve and Odi, as well as NGOs People of Great Power, League of Extradiners and Let the Nation Grow Gentlemen’s Club.

Equipped with wheelbarrows, long-handled shovels and spades, ground rakes, plastics and chainsaws, the stakeholders gave the cemetery a fresh look.

According to the Boksburg Correctional Services media liaison officer, Sello Modise, when they arrived in the morning, they found the cemetery looking like a dumpster.

He said people were dumping, trees were unpruned, grass grew all over and it was not dignified as a cemetery is supposed to be.

“Part of our plan in doing this project is to bring dignity back to our communities so they can follow this path.
“This is a place where we need to get solace. When you get here, you must get refreshed. The place must be neat and clean, but when we got here, unfortunately, we found the place has been turned into a dumping place by our communities.”

He said they removed the rubble where there was a dumpster at the entrance gate. “We pruned the trees at the gate so the entrance is visible.”

He further said people must feel welcome when they come to the cemetery so they feel free when they are there.
Modise said putting together the project was challenging because they had to bring together the stakeholders.

He said there were many during the plenary, but some stakeholders were a no-show during implementation.

“We could have doubled the progress we made today. Another issue is the lack of equipment. The municipality does not have enough equipment. We had to rely on community members and stakeholders to bring their tools and ensure our project was successful.”

The CPF deputy chairperson, Tshepo Dyoyi, said several people had visited their offices to voice their dissatisfaction in the past months.

They complained about people who parked their cars at the cemetery and those who went there for sex or drink alcohol because they left used condoms and alcohol bottles inside the premises, he added.

Vosloorus SAPS media liaison officer Nompumelelo Nhlapo condemned the community’s actions, citing that the cemetery is sacred.

“The Letsima Project will not end here. It is ongoing. This is our way of giving back and showing our love to the community.

“I say to the community, let us reclaim their land once again, respect the cemetery and bring back the strong mentality of taking care of our ancestors,” said Nhlapo.

Parolee Jabu Ntshangase from the Dindela Section said the project had to be done, and that for parolees, it was part of showing remorse and contributing positively to the community.

“We have to show people that staying the course at correctional centres has rehabilitated us. We were not just locked up prisoners. We learnt a lot. I am happy we are here. We want to show the community we love them and are ready to live with them,” said Ntshangase.

Another parolee who finished serving a life sentence, Jabu Mkhoanazi from Ext 14, said he liked such projects because it kept them physically active.

“The projects also give us hope because our family members rest in this cemetery. As we clean this cemetery, we are revived spiritually,” said Mkhoanazi.

Modise said they would have a postmortem meeting with the stakeholders to determine how the project went, where they lacked and what they needed to do to move forward.