Efforts to maintain the Geduld Cemetery remains a battle for the City of Ekurhuleni.
The biggest challenge remains the fence surrounding the cemetery, the palisades of which are being stolen every time the metro replaces them.
Security and safety concerns have turned many people away who wish to visit the graves of their loved ones.
“A cemetery should be a place where people feel safe to visit their loved ones who have died.
“It should be the last place where people feel unsafe,” said ward councillor Thulani Simelane.
Residents who do visit the cemetery are appalled by the length of the grass and weeds surrounding the graves.
“We spent two hours digging through a weed field trying to find paths and graves when I finally found my father, Leonard Stoop.
“It was a very frustrating and traumatic experience for my mother. We feel ashamed when we walk through here,” said frustrated resident Ursula Schultz.
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Simelane stated the constant rain has made it difficult for metro workers to cut the grass.
Covid-19 has also posed a challenge for the City of Ekurhuleni when it comes to funding, said Simelane.
“The conditions there are truly horrendous,” commented resident Marlize Davidtz.
“The children’s graves and headstones are overgrown and some headstones are no longer visible due to a lack of maintenance.
“I don’t know who’s responsibility it is to keep the cemeteries cut and trimmed.
“I was there this morning to clean my father’s grave like I do every month, and the conditions seem to be worse and worse every month.”
Comment from the City of Ekurhuleni will be published as soon as it has been received.
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