uMngeni looking into acquiring land to extend Mpophomeni Cemetery

UMngeni Municipality is looking into acquiring land to extend Mpophomeni Cemetery due to the growing shortage of burial space.

Speaking at the municipality’s community services portfolio committee meeting last week, uMngeni deputy mayor Sandile Mnikathi said they have identified land near the cemetery that could be used to extend the site.

Mnikathi said even though people have started building houses on the land they have identified, there is still enough space for the cemetery and the municipality’s leadership has spoken to the induna about it.

"The induna said this will be discussed at the tribal council and [he] will then give us feedback. It would be unfortunate if they refuse to give us the land because the situation at Mpophomeni Cemetery is urgent and the land is closer but if so, we’ll have to look for other land," he added.

There is a shortage of burial space at all municipal cemeteries but uMngeni is currently focusing on Mpophomeni, as the situation is worsening rapidly.

Other issues, including safety, fencing and having no toilets at Mpophomeni Cemetery, will also be discussed once the land has been acquired.

Mpophomeni residents have raised numerous complaints about the state of the cemetery, apart from the shortage of space.

One of the residents, who asked not to be named, said there is an increase in crime at the cemetery which makes it difficult for them to visit the graves.

"We bury our family members in this cemetery because we have no other place as it’s the only one close to us. However, the amount of crime does not guarantee that we will find their [graves] in the good state we left them in," the woman said.

She added that criminals have removed the fencing at the cemetery and residents who visit the facility are always shocked by the state of the grave sites of their loved ones.

"You find tombstones destroyed, metal crosses for the graves stolen and it’s a big issue for us," the woman said. "Some even get confused as to where their graves are because the crosses with names have been stolen.

"We respect the dead in our culture and we have to visit them but I don’t think anyone can actually visit those graves whenever they want because of the criminals."

Councillor Thulani Mthalane said the shortage of space at the cemetery is a huge concern.

"We are worried because it looks like people will no longer be able to bury their family members at this cemetery," he added. "The Curry’s Post Cemetery is not suitable for Mpophomeni residents because they are far from it and there will soon be a shortage of space there as well because it is also not big enough."