Cemetery forgotten and neglected
ANGRY residents in Ritchie have accused the Sol Plaatje Municipality in Kimberley of disrespecting the memory of their deceased loved ones by allowing the old cemetery in Rietvale to turn into a “jungle”.
The residents said that the final resting places of their loved ones are inaccessible as the cemetery is overgrown with grass and thorn trees.
They said the municipality has, after opening the new local cemetery, never maintained the old cemetery, which has become a “breeding ground” for criminals and drug users.
One local resident, Mitchell Holzhauzen, said he is unable to show his children where their great-grandfather is buried as the cemetery has become unsafe to visit.
“My grandfather and my cousin are buried at that cemetery. As one grew older, we never imagined that the cemetery would be in its current state. I remember when I was younger, we used to go visit my grandfather’s grave. I am currently not able to do that as one has to walk through dense grass and trees. The grave sites are covered with overgrown grass and one cannot even see where the graves are located. It is heartbreaking to see the cemetery being left in such a state. I cannot even go and show my own children where their great-grandfather and other relatives are buried. It is such a disgrace,” Holzhauzen said.
Other residents said the municipality is not respecting the dead.
“There is no reason why the old cemetery could not be maintained even though a new burial site was identified. It is not fair that the old cemetery became forgotten the moment the new one opened. What would happen should another site be identified as a burial site, will we then again just let that one also go to ruin? We need to prioritise the memory of the dead and also respect their final resting place.
“This all boils down to the provision of municipal services, which the maintenance of cemeteries also forms part of. The municipality has failed to provide a service with regards to the maintenance of cemeteries. We cannot just have grave sites that are covered in overgrown grass and then just turn a blind eye.
“The municipality needs to address the matter with urgency and turn the cemetery into the respected resting place it should be. It cannot be that we just allow the cemetery to continue to deteriorate and become a place that drug users abuse. This is a clear sign that the municipality not only fails us when we are alive, but even when we are dead.”
Sol Plaatje Municipality spokesperson Thoko Riet said that although the cemetery is no longer being utilised as a burial site, they will attend to the maintenance thereof.
“A new burial site was identified so there are no burials that take place at the old cemetery. We will however attend to the matter as we need to respect our burial sites,” Riet said.