The plan is to develop on the surrounding land near the Sizwe Hospital which is the site of an old cemetery.
The hospital, formerly known as Rietfontien Hospital, was established 115 years ago and treated patients who had bubonic plague, smallpox, leprosy and TB. Patients who had died from those diseases were buried in close proximity of the hospital.
Town planner and architect, Marian Laserson said the cemetery was home to about 7 000 graves and was concerned that the digging up of these graves could lead to an outbreak of these diseases.
Resident, Leonora Boer said, “I am very concerned that the digging up of smallpox dead could start a smallpox epidemic. I have no idea if bubonic plague, TB and whatever other infectious diseases could also be unleashed if that land with all the graves is disturbed, it’s a very scary business. This is not a normal exhumation. This is a scary concern.”
City of Johannesburg spokesperson Nthatisi Modingoane said a formal application for exhumations must be obtained from the health department in terms of regulations framed in the National Health Act. “City’s environmental health practitioner must be present and the exhumation must be carried out by professionals taking the necessary disinfection to prevent the spread of any disease,” said Modingoane.
Laserson appealed to residents to participate in the fight against the 171 hectare development of 4 000 affordable houses, two schools, recreation centre and shops. “The Environmental Impact Assessment is already underway and it is essential that as many people as possible voice their opinions on this,” she said. “Residents are horrified.”
Bokamoso landscape architects and environmental consultants said they were conducting the public participation process. The company’s Anè Agenbacht said the background information document was available for interested and affected parties to view. “More information will be available within the draft scoping report which will be available by the end of November 2013 for review and comments,” said Agenbacht.
She said all affected parties’ inputs would be considered and incorporated to form part of the Environmental Impact Assessment process.
