BHEKUZULU cemetery is in a state, a dreadful state to be precise.
A cold Autumn breeze gnaws at one as you enter the cemetery, and although temperatures have already dropped with winter fast approaching, the chills are mainly from the atrocity this marble town has become.
Grass and weeds have grown to a point where this resting-place for the dead is barely visible.
According to Mkhanyiseli Mhlongo, who is the branch chairperson and ANC candidate of Ward 13, under which the cemetery falls, it has been years since the grass at the cemetery was cut.
“A group of community members who would help with the maintenance of the cemetery was formed in the past few years to tackle the matter as the sight of grass and weeds had become beyond appalling. That was only a temporary arrangement as we were waiting for the municipality to address the situation, ” said Mr Mhlongo.
He said that the cemetery has not received any attention from the municipality for well over three years and although the matter has been pointed out numerous times, nothing seems to be done.
Mr Mhlongo said that he felt that the neglect was due to the fact that people assigned to ensure that these funerary grounds are kept clean, do not have relatives or loved ones buried there and thus feel no remorse.
“It is easy to have an ‘I don’t care attitude’ when something does not directly affect you,” he said sadly.
The Vryheid Herald was still waiting from a response from the AbaQulusi Municipality’s media liaison Arnold Ramodibe at the time of going to print.
Also Read:Bhekuzulu cemetary looking much better.
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