Maintenance at cemetery comes under fire

Irregular maintenance at the cemeteries in Estcourt has been a talking point among locals for many years. From long grass to attacks by criminals, residents have seen it all at what should be regarded as a sacred place.

Two weeks ago, a group of seven people (an Estcourt resident accompanied by six former residents) were also disappointed at what was observed at the Keate Street cemetery.

“When entering, the first thing you see is the laundry left hanging on a pylon inside the cemetery. Upon further investigation, it was evident that someone was living at the cemetery. There were personal items, as well as a fire made in the area, that should have been a Wall of Remembrance,” stated the resident.

As the family made their way to the grave of a loved one, their discontent grew.

“The grass is so long that it is virtually impossible to access some of the gravesites. An open manhole lies in wait to trap a misstep and what was more perturbing was that a slab over a grave looked like it had been levered open. It’s really unkempt and disrespectful to the families who visit the cemetery,” explained the resident.

She added that some family members had to resort to pulling out tufts of grass with their hands to gain access to a gravesite and lay flowers.

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“As a local, I was very disappointed by what we saw at the cemetery on October 9. My family members were also taken aback by the state the cemetery was in and some even asked if it was safe to be there,” added the resident.

These concerns were relayed to Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality and a familiar answer was given when asked about the maintenance plan for cemeteries in the area.

“A maintenance plan has not been implemented due to lack of funds. However, it will be revised,” said acting municipal manager Hans Chotoo.

Also on the cards is a review of the security plan for cemeteries after an increase in the theft of tombstones.

When asked about whether the municipality was aware of persons living at the cemetery, Chotoo said, “The issue of ‘paras’ around the town is dealt with by the SAPS, in partnership with the municipality.”

When it comes to safety, Chotoo said that security guards are present.

“All our cemeteries have security guards. The Keate Street cemetery has one for the day shift and another during night shift,” he said.
The missing manhole cover has been reported to uThukela District Municipality and according to the local municipality, the grass will be cut soon.

“The municipality will attend to the grass cutting as soon as possible. A permanent grass cutting schedule will be implemented,” concluded Chotoo.

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