IF you think that the long grass at Vryheid Cemetery is their biggest problem, just wait until you see what security has to deal with when ‘mourners’ gather in their masses at the graveyard…
The previous Saturday, crowds of mourners gathered at Vryheid Cemetery for the ten funerals that were reported to be taking place on the same day and chaos ensued as security measures proved less than effective when going up against an unruly mob who had found themselves a disturbing location to lounge.
While apparently waiting to pay their respects to their own deceased, it appears that respect for the already long-deceased was not of any importance to the group, who chose to seat themselves on gravestones quite far away from where the bulk of the funerals were actually taking place and crack open ‘a few cold ones’ in the shade of a tree as they waited, occasionally stepping away to relieve themselves near other gravestones.
This practice is not permitted, according to groundskeeper at Vryheid Cemetery, Bertie Slabbert, who already has his hands full trying to maintain the state of the cemetery and keep up with the daily running of the place with the added pressure of having very limited resources at his disposal. According to Slabbert, the security guard is aware of this protocol and is required to instruct those who go against this code of conduct to remove themselves from the gravestones of those laid to rest at the cemetery.
“I asked them to move,” responded the female security guard who is tasked with keeping things under control at Vryheid Cemetery. “But they wouldn’t listen to me.” she added.
We asked her what the procedure was in instances where she was clearly outnumbered, like Saturday’s situation and she stated that she was unsure. We suggested that she perhaps call for assistance, which she eventually did and another guard was subsequently sent out to help her deal with the crowd.
“Back in my day,” says Slabbert, “we didn’t do things like this… The last place you’d sit is on a gravestone. I don’t understand it…” he adds, shaking his head in disbelief.
According to Slabbert, this type of incident is not an isolated one and many headstones and gravestones end up being damaged and vandalised along the way as those among the living show their utter disrespect for the dead.
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Mayor Sibiya added that something needs to be done in order to beef up security at the cemetery and that crowd control and scheduling of funerals, especially when there are numerous funerals taking place simultaneously, is a matter that will be addressed in future.Director of Community Services, Archie Khumalo, was not available at the time of the incident. However AbaQulusi mayor, Cllr Jerry Sibiya responded, stating that the situation would be handled accordingly.
Mayor Sibiya also stated that he had been informed by the security company that the group in question eventually apologised and that the matter was taken care of.
