THUGS ROB MOURNERS

Police warn of graveyard robbers

A GRAVEYARD has become a den for criminals who prey on people visiting their loved ones in their last resting place.

The robberies at Odi Cemetery in Mabopane, 40km outside Pretoria, occur despite the cemetery posting a security guard – who is unarmed – at the entrance day and night.

Grieving residents in Mabopane and surrounding areas are robbed of their personal belongings when they visit graves at the cemetery.

Police confirmed they were investigating cases of armed robbery which began eight months ago.

Prudence Maloka said her family was still traumatised after she and seven family members were robbed last month, a day after they buried her aunt.

“We went to the grave a day after the funeral because some of the family members had not been able to attend the burial.

“We were busy laying flowers when we were approached by a man holding a spade. He had a gun in his belt and a big knife. He ordered us to open the cars. He took all our valuables, including jewellery and phones.

“He even demanded earings from an 18-month-old baby in my arms,” said Maloka.

Maloka said a second man appeared and opened the car boot.

“He took my handbag and more valuables. They told us that if we made a noise we would return to bury another family member. They then instructed us to continue with what we were doing, but we were too nervous to continue. We left after they disappeared,” she said.

On Friday, the family was too frightened to return to the graveyard to erect a tombstone as planned.

The local enforcement authorities have issued pamphlets warning residents about the robberies.

“All Winterveldt and Mabopane residents, be informed that there is a group of criminals who are committing crimes at Odi Cemetery. These criminals target people who go to the cemetery for cultural rituals or other activities. They rob people of their belongings.

“They operate between 13:00 and 17:00 when the place is quiet,” the pamphlet warns.

Police spokesman Captain Samuel Sebola told Sowetan the cops were concerned about the robberies.

“Most people regard a graveyard as a sacred place. No one thinks about crime when they go to a graveyard – that is why we feel we have to warn them,” Sebola said.

“People who are visiting should not let their guard down, they should be alert at all times.”

Sebola said the police have been regularly patrolling the cemetery.

Tebogo Dire and her brother Kgosietsile visited their father’s grave on Father’s Day last year when they were attacked.

“We were placing the flowers [on the grave] when three men approached us. One of them pointed a gun at my brother and told him not to make a sound,” said Dire.

“One attacked me while the other searched our car. I tried to scream and fight back but the one who attacked me threatened to rape me.

“One ordered us to give them everything we had. They took all our possessions including our shoes.”

Dire said the robbers then locked them inside the car and left the car keys on the roof.

“We tried to get attention by screaming for help but no one noticed us. Forty minutes later another car came, we could not hoot because the car was locked. We managed to flick the lights, we got their attention and they rescued us.”

Dire’s mother Miriam said the whole family was traumatised.

“We used to visit his [her husband’s] grave regularly on special days including his birthdays and Christmas. Now we could not visit on his birthday because we are still afraid,” she said.