JMPD officers attended 232 funerals in February to minimise gang-related violence and to help control large crowds at cemeteries, including one of the city’s busiest, Westpark.
“At the moment there are anywhere between 25 and 40 funerals on a Saturday and up to 30 funerals on a Sunday. When a known gangster or high-profile individual is due to be buried, additional manpower is deployed,” said Xolani Fihla, JMPD Spokesperson.
JMPD Superintendent Raymond Mamitela said, “Our members are spread thin at the moment as we have had to turn our attention to growing gang-related violence in Westbury. Attending funerals has become a large part of our function to avoid violence. Our intention is to ensure the safety of the public at these events where outbursts of gang warfare can spark easily.”
The Northcliff Melville Times visited Westpark Cemetery unannounced to witness a random Saturday’s goings on. On March 18, they were on hand for almost 40 funerals.
On arrival, it was clear that the heavy presence of JMPD officers was needed. One funeral had at least 200 mourners who became agitated after JMPD closed the gates to the cemetery. This move was needed after some mourners engaged in dangerous behaviour.
“Three cars belonging to our funeral procession were driving roughly at the entrance to the cemetery. JMPD just told us that all vehicles for our funeral now need to park outside the gates and we must walk in on foot. We are not happy at all,” said Lucky Oxssai.
At one-point mourners and JMPD officers were in a stand-off of sorts with tensions high and the emotions of the funeral attendees boiling over. The situation was managed, the gates reopened and the funeral took place.
Not only was this required to calm the mourners, but to ensure the environment was as calm as possible for other mourners burying their loved ones.
“Metro police are deployed to maintain order at Westpark Cemetery as people have in the past engaged in dangerous behaviour like shooting in the air and carrying firearms to the funerals. If a high-profile person or known gang member is being buried, the police will also attend and help ensure law and order is maintained,” said Sophiatown police spokesperson Captain TJ de Bruyn.
Once the funeral is over our members go back to their substantive deployments and Region B officers remain behind until the last funeral party has entered the cemetery,” said Fihla.
“JMPD members are stationed at Westpark Cemetery daily and not only over weekends. Their main purpose is to perform traffic management. Joburg City Parks and Zoo only uses the one access point at the corner of Beyers Naude Drive and Westpark Drive. “It becomes hectic to ensure that the cortege follows the correct hearse to the grave site as several funeral parties can arrive together.”
While covering this story JMPD officers threatened this journalist for taking photographs of events as they unfolded. JMPD is aware of the complaint and is investigating.
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