Cemetery in a grave state
Infrastructure in poor condition, cut trees have blocked the driveway for months
AT STELLAWOOD Cemetery there is some dignity in death for human beings, but not for trees.
Six months ago, ethekwini Municipality workers cut the trees, but left them where they fell – on the driveway to the cemetery in Umbilo, Durban.
This has irked frequent visitors who claim it hampers their movement when they visit the graveyard.
Some residents also complained about the poor state of the cemetery, which they blame on municipal officials working there not doing their jobs properly.
The infrastructure is in a state of decay. The grass is overgrown.
But what has really irked residents is the failure of workers to remove the debris of the trees that were cut.
They said it reflected the “disregard and carelessness nature” of the officials working there.
They have raised the issue with the municipality but said nothing had changed.
When City Watch visited the site this week, a pile of chopped wood was blocked sections of the graveyard’s driveway. As a result, some visitors were forced to park their cars a distance away from the graves of the loved ones they were visiting.
Morningside resident Luciano Cattaneo said it was painful to see how the city had failed to maintain a place he regarded to be a “place of peace”.
I visit here often, and I hoped that the municipality would do something to improve the condition of the graveyard, but it has not happened.
“I have also noticed that most visitors are elderly people who struggle to walk long distances. I have engaged the officials, but it is clear that they are not willing to improve the condition of the graveyard,” said Cattaneo.
Ward councillor Mmabatho Tembe said the cemetery had an abandoned building that attracted vagrants and drug users.
They entered through an unlocked gate.
Illegal dumping was another problem at the cemetery and the street lights didn’t work.
“Nothing has been done, even after my numerous calls and emails,” she said.
The city previously conceded that many of its graveyards were in a bad state due to vandalism and decaying infrastructure.
Spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela said municipal staff regularly cleaned and cut grass at the cemeteries, but he could not provide reasons for the tree debris not being removed.
“Despite the continuous acts of vandalism and litter found at the cemeteries, the city is doing its absolute best to maintain and secure all cemeteries.
“That includes repairing fencing, adding security guards on site and exercising access control measures at the cemeteries,” he said.
Mayisela said the city had submitted a recommendation to add four security guards at Stellawood to resolve the security issues at the graveyard.