Clamping down on funeral gunshots

City Parks and law enforcement to have a meeting to address discharging of firearms at cemetery.

Residents are fed up with gunfire that continues to take place at Westpark Cemetery. Through the years and over the last few weeks, residents have turned to social media to figure out who and why gunshots are being fired at the graveyard, and are frustrated that this continues to be the case.

Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, who are responsible for cemeteries and crematoria in the City, noted the serious concerns. The spokesperson Jenny Moodley said there will be a meeting soon to clamp down on dangerous and unruly behaviour at the cemetery. Moodley said, “The meeting has been scheduled for March 8 to decisively deal with transgressions in cemeteries and to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable. The meeting will also assist in clarifying the roles and responsibilities of the various safety and security stakeholders deployed during the weekends, to ensure that funerals proceed incident-free.”

Attendees of the meeting will include the private security company employed at the cemetery and Metro police.

The Northcliff Melville Times previously reported about gunshots being fired at the cemetery on January 27, as reported in the article Shots fired at West Park funeral Week ending February 4. According to Sophiatown Police Station spokesperson TJ de Bruyn, they attended the scene to find the funeral of a politically connected person taking place. Unfortunately, the suspect was not identifiable and shortly afterwards the funeralgoers left.

Moodley stressed that there are no incidents, except in cases of state-authorised or military funerals where a 21-gun salute is allowed, that the shooting of firearms is permitted. She added, “In these instances, careful safety considerations are taken [into account], and a full disaster management committee session is held prior to incorporating this honour, in the proceedings of a funeral. Any member of the public who releases his firearm at a funeral is in contravention of the laws of the country and will be arrested.”

The responsibility to enforce this is that of Metro police and local police who are usually present at the entrance of the cemetery.

As the public waits to hear the outcome of the meeting they have been urged to ‘respect the sanctity found within a cemetery as you bid farewell to your loved ones’, Moodley said. She added reports of disrespect, abuse of alcohol, illegal parking and litter are limited to a small number of visitors but acknowledged it negatively impacted other mourners and the lives of residents living in close proximity to the cemetery.

Residents are urged to report transgressions, including the reporting of gunshots, to local or Metro police.

Details: Metro police 011 375 5911; Sophiatown Police Station 011 670 6300.