There is no rest for the deceased buried at the Khayelitsha cemetery with thugs and vandals running amok.
The cemetery is appalling after the fence was stolen and some of the tombs damaged.
This has prompted the Khayelitsha Development Forum (KDF) to request an immediate intervention from the City of Cape Town.
KDF says the grave site has been in ruins for more than five years and action is needed to remedy the deteriorating conditions.
KDF secretary Khayalethu Nethi said it is disheartening to witness damaged graves and a fenceless burial site, leaving them prone to further damage.
“To us as a black community, the cemetery is a very important place. We respect it. We believe the spirits of those who are buried are still alive. You cannot just go up and down as you please between the graves. You only go there when you are visiting your relative’s grave or going to perform something,” he explained.
Nethi appealed for a new fence and a permanent security guard to protect the graveyard from the delinquents.
He highlighted unemployment and the use of illegal substances as having an impact on the escalating criminal activities in various communities.
Nethi also blamed the City for not providing proper services in townships. He also called for improved police visibility in the townships.
“Our police stations are not fully resourced. They don’t have enough vans, and we need more officers deployed in our stations.
“Look at the number of officers and the vans that are at Lingelethu-West police station, it’s impossible for them to cover the whole precinct at the same time,” said Nethi.
The City’s Mayco member for Community Services and Health, Francine Higham, said the Recreation and Parks Department is aware of a few reported incidents of vandalising of graves. She said while the upkeep of individual graves, including cleaning and repairs, remains the responsibility of families, the City recognises the impact of vandalism on the dignity of the site.
“There are plans, which are in the process of being approved, to replace the fencing with concrete walls, as previous varieties of fencing have unfortunately been stolen. City cemeteries have been allocated approximately R10 million for repairs and maintenance in the current financial year,” said Higham. She said the materials used to construct memorials are sometimes stolen for scrap or resale value. She advised families to use reputable companies to install memorial work for their loved ones.
