Law enforcement agencies, City officials and residents met on March 10 to bring the shooting incidents taking place at the gravesite under control.
Ward 88 councillor Nicolene Jonker and Ward 69 councillor Genevieve Sherman explained their residents are always in the firing line with some of them reporting to them they have found bullets on their properties, while others feared for the worst during such shootings.
Jonker said, “What I deal with on a weekly basis, every time there are shootings at funerals, is mothers with children needing to hide in bathrooms, at the back of their homes because it’s ongoing shooting.”
Cases relating to shootings had been opened with Sophiatown Police Station but to date, no arrests have been made nor action taken to reduce the shootings. The purpose of the meeting was to find a way to deal with the matter and ensure law and order prevailed during all funeral sessions.
City Parks and Zoo, the City entity that manages gravesites like Westpark Cemetery, acknowledged that it is a serious problem but will need a collaborative effort to tackle. Having faced such issues at other cemeteries, they suggested that law enforcement agencies make use of their intelligence networks to identify potentially problematic funerals prior to the day.
City Parks offered to share lists of funerals taking place on a weekly basis for the police to look through and try identify which might result in gunshots being fired and prepare appropriately.
Metro police confirmed that such shots tend to take place at funerals of ex-freedom fighters and gangsters and that the chaos starts before they make it to the cemetery. With Metro taking note of unruly progressions and illegal activity leading toward the cemetery, they would share this with the police in order to act upon their arrival.
City Parks also committed themselves to educate funeralgoers of the by-laws that exist at public spaces such as cemeteries. Spokesperson Jenny Moodley stated there are no by-laws except in instances of state-authorised or military funerals where a 21-gun salute is allowed.
This, along with other rules, will be communicated with people going to Westpark to reserve a grave and through means of a notice board at the entrance. Metro police also committed themselves, although severely understaffed to enforce by-laws in and around Westpark Cemetery.
Residents present at the meeting complained about the clogged roads leading in and out of the cemetery, public urination on streets and walls, drinking and driving and many other transgressions that they have reported for years. Members of the public found engaging in such will be arrested and taken to Sophiatown Police Station to be prosecuted in terms of the law.
Communication and plans between the entities are ongoing and have been backed by Community Development MMC Ronald Harris. They hope to get into action soon and apologise to residents for having to experience such.
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