When a loved one passes away you envision a dignified resting place where remains can be safely stored.
Featherbrooke resident Manna Fourie was shocked to discover that a sewage spill was running through graves in the Panorama Cemetery.
“I was on my way to visit my son’s grave on his birthday on 14 June. As I entered the cemetery, I noticed that water (sewage water) was running through the area and on my son’s grave as well.”
Fourie said he immediately gave City Parks a call about the terrible situation but nothing was ever done as no one wanted to take ownership of the problem.
The general state of the cemetery has also gone down a lot and Fourie and his wife hired an individual who looks after their son’s grave.
“We had to do this because the grass is uncut and trees are untrimmed. The entity is currently not looking after the cemetery and we pay our rates and taxes, so it should be looked after and maintained.”
Fourie said that a tree collapsed a couple of months ago and landed on top of a tombstone and it has been left there since.
He added that he confronted the caretaker at the cemetery who explained that it was City Parks’ responsibility to fix the problem.
“The tree has been there for so long that grass has now started growing over the stump.”
City Parks spokesperson Jenny Moodley said, “The query has been forwarded on to Johannesburg Water for urgent assistance. The matter is being prioritised and the entity will advise of the outcome.”
No comment was received from Johannesburg Water at the time of going to print.