‘No comment’ regarding the Mokopane cemetary
It has been nine months since Bosveld first reported on the state of the cemetary and none of the said promises have been attended to.
MOKOPANE – Nine months and still no change. The Mokopane cemetery is a sight for sore eyes and the Mogalakwena Municipality is not keeping their promises.
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Bosveld accompanied Yolandé Coetzee, Democratic Alliance (DA) ward councillor, to the cemetery on Monday. Coetzee says she received complaints from residents that some graves have sunked in and it is the municipality’s responsibility to fill it up.
“I reported this matter to Gerhard Meyer, the Head of Parks, on Monday morning. I am grateful for the quick response – they are already filling up the graves.
It is warming to know that there are still people like Meyer at the municipality that we can rely on. He made sure the grass was cut and kept short and the trash cans were emptied.”
Coetzee told Bosveld that it is a shame that the rest of the promises made by the municipality were not kept.
“The gate is still not replaced, there is almost no fence left and the toilet facilities are filthy.
Also, all doorknobs, taps and seat covers are stolen. I cannot recommend anyone to use it.
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“The municipality have to appoint competent people in managerial positions who can manage and see to it that the work is done.”
Bosveld asked the Manager of Community Service, Meriam Molala, what the municipality’s plans are to keep to the promises made.
Molala claimed that Bosveld and Coetzee are not allowed to visit the cemetery and have to ask for permission from her to enter. Bosveld told Molala that it is a public place and people are allowed to visit their loved ones’ graves without asking for permission.
“Yes, but everyone has to get permission to enter the cemetery and you have to follow protocol,” Molala says. Bosveld knows its rights as a newspaper.
Bosveld told Molala that Jabu Mashamaite, Acting Superintendent of Parks and Recreation Communities and Malesela Selokela, Spokesperson for the Municipality, accompanied Bosveld in January to the cemetery and promised that the gate will be replaced, the fence and toilet facilities will be repaired and cleaned, the grass will be cut and the cemetery will be maintained.
Read more: Cemetery still an eyesore, despite promises made
Molala simply said “no comment” and ended the call.
redaksie.bosvelder@nmgroup.co.za
