Mr January Nkabinde, who died in November in 2009, was buried on November 18 in Old Pretoria Road Cemetery. The family went to clean his grave, which had a tombstone, on Good Friday as is their custom.
They were shocked to find the tombstone destroyed and the slab on the grave missing.
The family said it had cost them R12 500 to put up the tombstone. They visited the grave in December and all was well.
“We are heart broken, people can be very cruel. We expect respect for the dead, what type of person does this?” asked a family member.
The family said they put up the tombstone to show future generations where their relatives are buried and as a sign of respect.
There have been several cases of tombstones either being destroyed, while others were reportedly stolen at the cemeteries. In one incident several tombstones were destroyed at Ekuphumeleni Cemetery. In another incident several tombstones were destroyed and were found thrown outside at the very same Old Pretoria Road Cemetery.
The family reported the matter to local municipality and to Vosman police.
