- After months of delay due to extortion threats, work on revitalizing the vandalized Gugulethu cemetery has resumed with security guards on site.
- The City of Cape Town aims to complete the first phases by April, with the final phase scheduled for July-September 2025.
- Local leaders urge the community to support the project, emphasizing the cultural and emotional significance of the cemetery.
After months of delay due to extortion, the rejuvenation of the Gugulethu cemetery is finally underway.
The cemetery, situated between Klipfontein Road and NY 5, has been an eyesore for several years. It was stripped by vandals and has been a grazing field for animals, and a dumping spot for humans.
Efforts by the municipality to revamp the facility came to a grinding halt when extortion threats were made against the workers in June last year (“Extortion halts yard build at Gugulethu cemetery”, City Vision, 27 June 2024).
With police making significant inroads against the extortion scourge, a new contractor returned to the site on Wednesday 19 February.
In a statement, the City stated that its Recreation and Parks Department is working tirelessly to ensure the completion of the project. “Yes, the department can confirm that security guards are on site. The project completion for the three sides is expected to be at the end of April (this year),” read the statement.
The project is being completed in phases, aligned with available resources, the statement continued. “The final phase, which involves the front section of the cemetery, is scheduled to commence in the new financial year starting 1 July with anticipated completion by September this year. While there were challenges, including attempted extortion that temporarily disrupted work last year, the City remains committed to delivering the project and ensuring its successful completion,” stated the City.
Gugulethu Development Forum secretary Vincent Domingo appealed to the community to protect the contract workers.
He said they are pleased with the new development as it will bring hope and closure, not only to the families of the people who have family members at the cemetery, but to the community at large. He said the suspension of the contract had left an unbearable pain. “In our culture, a cemetery is a very respected place. You can’t do as you please there. You don’t even go there. But because we are living in a broken community, the criminals decided to vandalise not only the yard but the graves as well,” said Domingo, adding that some graves have their tombstones stolen.
He urged the City to deploy security guards to protect the cemetery.