Families angry over graves being desecrated
Who is responsible for removing sentimental objects from deceased loved ones’ graves in the new Boksburg Cemetery?
This is the question posed by family members who are crying foul over the disrespectful removal of stones, plants and sentimental items from the graves they’ve been trying so hard to maintain.
When Nicky Steyn arrived at her mother-in-law’s grave on Sunday (March 13), she was disappointed to see that the artificial flowers they had laid at her grave had been removed.
“My father-in-law is devastated,” said Steyn.
“When I questioned the security guard about it, I was told that the Ekurhuleni Municipality is behind it all, due to the current demolition taking place.
“If this is the case, the municipality could have at least notified us about it so that we could have gone to remove the personal belongings ourselves.”
However, Steyn remains unsure whether it truly is the metro contractors who are removing items from the graves, as this was not the first incident of flowers being taken from her mother-in-law’s grave.
“My mother-in-law is buried close to the wall, so someone might have climbed through the wall and stole the flowers,” she said.
“Thus, I think it might be vandalism.
“Also, the area where she is buried does not need to be demolished, because the ground is already level.
“The children’s section is another story – it is a very rocky area and not a nice sight at all.”
Miche Rodgers’ baby son is buried in this section.
She told the Advertiser that most of the graves have been demolished in this section, as the ground is very uneven.
“The plants, stones, toy cars and teddies have been taken from my son’s grave,” said Rodgers.
“I don’t know if it’s the contractors or vandalism, but it is unacceptable.”
Another mother, whose teenage son is also buried at the new Boksburg Cemetery, was very angry.
Martinette Geldenhuys and her family made a beautiful garden at her deceased son’s grave.
When she heard the rumours doing the rounds regarding the removal of items at graves, she decided to rather remove the personal objects from her son’s grave herself, before someone else took them.
“I did it myself to avoid further disappointment if, one day, I arrive at the grave with the shock that everything has been removed,” said Geldenhuys.
“Those people who look after their deceased loved ones’ graves are the ones who now have to suffer. I can’t explain to you how I feel – I am bitterly unhappy and upset. There is no respect for the deceased.”
Geldenhuys also complained about the general upkeep of the cemetery.
“Something has to be done – the cemetery is in a poor condition” she said.
“The graves are falling in, 99 per cent of the time there’s no water, there is rubble everywhere, and the bathrooms are pathetic.”
The Advertiser asked the metro whether contractors are, indeed, removing objects from graves for demolition purposes, also, what the by-laws are when it comes to maintaining a loved one’s grave.
No response had been received by the time of publication.
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