The Democratic Alliance (DA) is insisting that top political and municipal management of Sol Plaatje municipality attends the next meeting of the Community Services unit, to seek an intervention in the critical state of Kimberley’s cemeteries.
All ten cemeteries are in a disgraceful and deteriorating state. Maintenance of overgrown grounds is non-existent. The Ramatsela cemetery in Galeshewe is inaccessible due to being flooded in sewage. Cemetery workers complain that they lack the tools of trade, like grasscutters, to be able to perform basic maintenance duties. The manager is also accused of doing little more than sitting in his bakkie on the rare occasions when he shows up.
Those visiting the graves of their loved ones do so at their own risk. Vandalism is rife, with the ablution facilities at the Ritchie cemetery most recently falling prey to costly destruction. Kimberley’s resting places have also become dens for criminal activity due to a lack of security. This includes unabated theft of cemetery fencing. The Roodepan cemetery is particularly targeted for cable theft, repeatedly leaving residents without power for prolonged periods. Last week, there were reports that intruders had cut away barbed wire fencing and were trying to get through the windows of the dilapidated offices.
No one at Sol Plaatje takes any responsibility for the injustices occurring at local graveyards. Instead, a culture of disrespect for the deceased, and abandonment of duty of care towards grieving families, is perpetuated.
Low quality, copy-and-paste reports and dismal committee attendance by directors and managers, make it increasingly difficult to hold managers accountable for the state of Sol Plaatje cemeteries. It also impedes attempts to initiate a way forward for the restoration of cemeteries, many of which are historical landmarks.
The DA submitted a request calling for the Mayor, Speaker and Mayoral Committee, alongside the municipal manager, and all managers and directors, to attend the next meeting of Community Services unit. A turnaround plan must be urgently activated to ensure that the budgetary allocation of R300 000 achieves the best possible value-for-money.
Sol Plaatje’s cemeteries cannot maintain themselves and the municipality owes it to the many who have gone before us, to restore dignity in death in Kimberley.