Mary Mphore (44) says the sewage has been flowing in and outside the cemetery for a while. When she and her mother, Mokopi Monaisa (72), first saw this a few weeks ago, they were disappointed. They had to pay a fee for burial and another for a permit when they erected the tombstone.

Mokopi says she is extremely disheartened and hurt by the state of the cemetery. She had hoped that the services would improve in a democratic country. The residents feel the graveyards are generally not properly maintained as this has been a problem for a while.

There has also been a sewage leak in the industrial area for about two weeks, according to Hendri Myburg. He said the leak began in Pietersen Street and flowed down to Jeppe Street. He added that private contractors were at the scene to assess the situation on Tuesday, 15 September.

The Herald asked the municipality for comment, but no response was received at the time of going to print.