The Westonaria Local Municipality has responded to the 20 February front page herald article ‘Graf skok’ in which the shocking findings at the Westonaria Cemetery were made public.
According to Kgabane Madiehe, the Communications, Customer Relations and Marketing assistant Manager of Westonaria Local Municipality “The cemetery’s grass is cut a minimum of eight times a year (September to May), with cycles of one cut every month.
“The monument section was cleaned by manually removing weeds with spades, however this method is costly, time consuming and requires a high number of staff to continuously clean during the growing period. Operational plans were revised on monument section to apply a non-selective herbicide – a pesticide used to kill unwanted plants – to chemically control weeds which was procured and delivered,” Madiehe said.
Madiehe explained to the herald a herbicide application program will be done on all cemeteries and Westonaria cemetery was their starting point.
“Application started in January at Westonaria cemetery from the cemetery entry point on the buildings, kerbing and about 30 per cent of graves at the monument section blocks. The application will continue as per operational plan of this quarter and the rainy weather delays the application as the herbicide will not make an effect if it rains after application,” Madiehe said.
“Grass cutting for the whole cemetery for February has already started and it includes all the graves and application of herbicide will still continue as planned to cover all monument section graves.
“Also note that ablution facilities where fully repaired and refurbished to standards during December 2014 as part of investments made onto Westonaria cemetery for this financial year. Concrete palisade fencing was done at Bekkersdal and Simunye cemetery and it is also considered and noted for Westonaria cemetery due to theft for scrap metal.”
Related article:
W’aria begrafplaas in skokkende toestand
