‘ELM must clean local graves’: Bosa
"We all know, and are aware that the tombstones are damaged, the grass is high, and people have created footpaths through these cemeteries."
SEDIBENG. – Build One South Africa (Bosa) in Sedibeng has said that it will soon be laying a formal complaint against Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) over a “shameful and disgraceful” condition that the cemeteries that are under it (ELM).
Bosa Sedibeng Chairperson, Botiki Nkopane said that the cemeteries under the ELM are a disgrace and shameful as a result of negligence by the municipality yet its employees, starting with the MMC for sport, parks, and cemeteries and general workers, including additional workers under the EPWP are getting paid every month to maintain or look after areas such as cemeteries (but they do not).
“Emfuleni municipality is spending millions on these employees, all for nothing and the community is helpless because they’ve lost hope. This must come to an end and it must be a wakeup call for all none performing leaders. After engagement with surrounding communities, we demand answers and that somebody must account on this matter to the extent of lodging a mass lawsuit against Emfuleni Municipality.”
Nkopane further said that they will not allow heritage sites, such as the gravesite in Sharpeville where the Sharpeville Massacre victims are buried, to be a disgrace any longer.
“We are inviting all community members and undertakers in Emfuleni, to unite and stand in support to fight this battle together. This intervention program must be implemented to put pressure on so-called local authorities to turn things around in all these cemeteries.”
In offering temporary solutions to the above, BOSA is initiating a clean–up campaign operation at the Evaton, Vanderbijlpark, and Vereeniging Cemeteries and to do this, Nkopane said that they hope to have the support of local communities and local businesses.
“Communities and families are expected to pay fees for graves but in return, there are no proper services to keep these cemeteries in good condition. We all know and are aware that the tombstones are damaged, the grass is high, people trample footpaths through these cemeteries, there is no proper landscaping and to make matters worse, suddenly there is no surrounding fence in Evaton and other cemeteries, which all contributes to criminals taking advantage of this situation to commit crime.”
