‘Respect our dead’
Residents whose loved ones are buried in the Silicon Cemetery, say the municipality’s levelling of grave mounds has left their gravesites damaged and vandalised, with some having sought legal advice on the way forward.
Alet Pieterse, who lost her husband to Covid-19, was one of many residents who in recent days visited the cemetery.
“Most of us did not have a chance to mourn our loved ones because of Covid-19 regulations. The graveyard is the one place where we go to seek guidance and peace. But when I went there last Monday, I got the shock of my life at the damage caused to my husband’s remembrance garden. The municipality has no regard for our loved ones.”
When Pieterse’s husband died, she applied for permission from the municipality, in line with regulations, to erect a remembrance garden. “This garden which was there in my husband’s honour, was dug up and vandalised.”
Approaching the caretaker, she said she was informed that the levelling was part of a municipal project of flattening the graves as part of beautifying the cemetery.
The current bylaws, still state that no person is permitted to walk over the gravesites, including municipal officials; and that the flattening of the grave bed is to be done within six months after a funeral, if a memorial bed laid has not been made.
Another resident, who wanted to remain anonymous, said a precious family tradition has now been lost forever after her grandfather’s gravesite was also levelled.
“When we bury a loved one, each member of the family brings a white stone from whichever part of the country they stay. This is of sentimental value to us. How do I begin to pick up these stones when it’s strewn all over the place. It is not only disrespectful to the dead, but to us as residents as well.”
Sarita du Plessis from Tzaneen also expressed her dismay.
“My husband was buried in Polokwane in January 2018 and since then I travel to Polokwane monthly to maintain his grave.”
She made a cross from sleeper wood with an embedded metal rose that was cemented onto the grave bed and decorated with white pebbles.
“That was my husband’s final resting place and it has been destroyed. The municipality will have to compensate for what they have done,” she said.
Municipal spokesperson Thipa Selala confirmed that the levelling of mounds is done in terms of cemetery by-law section 44, and that this is done every six months.
“After the initial complaints, an inspection was conducted. There is no physical damage to the graves, as workers only removed decorative items.”
He said the plan was to establish a grass garden and plant trees, and that the municipality issued a notice in this regard.
“The municipality issued a public notice informing residents about the levelling, in November 2021. The maintenance of cemeteries remains the responsibility of the municipality.
We have received a complaint regarding this matter and the complainant already met with the municipality.”
He said it is standard practice that those who bury their loved ones are informed that only tombstones, and not tombstones with a grave bed are allowed, in order to allow the municipality to beautify and maintain the aesthetics of the cemetery. “This is in line with the by-law and global practices of cemetery maintenance.”
Selala emphasised that the municipality will always treat cemeteries with the sensitivity and compassion it deserves and in respect for the deceased and their loved ones’ cultural beliefs and practices.
“Ultimately, our cemeteries’ aesthetics must resemble a dignified peaceful garden where we put the remains of our loved ones. The municipality takes into consideration the concerns and input on how this matter can be handled going forward, in line with the Reaga Polokwane people-centered approach. Anyone with queries is advised to contact the manager for environmental services,” he said.
In the meantime, the DA in Polokwane said it will submit written questions to the Speaker of Council about the “incompassionate manner” in which the municipality handled the levelling of grave hills at the cemetery.
DA Spokesperson on environment, Mariëtte Pretorius told Polokwane Observer that most affected residents she spoke to, were not aware of the municipality’s notice as it was seemingly only posted on social media.
“Communication in this regard is insufficient. Residents were shocked to find ornaments, including personal belongings, flowers and pots, damaged or destroyed.”
In a response by Henry Lubbe and Susan Clarke of the FF+, they said a conversation was had with the area’s strategic business unit, and the following was established:
• The municipality is well within its rights to flatten grave mounds after six months following a funeral, if no remembrance has been done at the grave.
• A notice was issued on November 18, 2021 about the planned flattening of graves.
• Gravestones and ornaments were damaged in the process.
• Only a gravestone is allowed to be erected, and a grave bed is not allowed to be decorated.
• The notice was published on social media but not in local newspapers.
• An agreement was reached that the graves will be repaired and that future operations will be properly communicated.
Most of us did not have a chance to mourn our loved ones because of Covid-19 regulations.