Grave robbers are desecrating a Fingo Village cemetery, digging up and removing human remains. But it's not the relatives who are upset.
Grave robbers are desecrating a Fingo Village cemetery, digging up and removing human remains. But it's not the relatives who are upset.
It's the families themselves who are taking away their dead – and residents in the area say it's making their lives hell.
Children play hide-and-seek among the open graves of the old Ndancama cemetery, drunks linger among the tombstones and they fear the area is becoming a haven for rapists and other criminals.
"We are really struggling to control our children from playing there," said resident Lindiswa Ngcambu.
"It was better when the graveyards were fenced." Nyameka Maki, who lives across the road from the cemetery, says her children are endangered because they play hide-and-seek inside the graves.
"People use the graveyards as dumping sites," said Maki. "Sometimes they burn old tyres on those open graves. It is really bad, the graveyards are not well looked after and it affects us."
While she blamed vagrants and criminals for the litter and vandalism, Ngcambu revealed that it was the relatives of the dead themselves who were digging up the graves and removing the remains.
She said they dig remains of their forefathers to relocate them.
"Every Easter we have people who come to dig remains here and leave the graves open," Ngcambu said.
Municipal officials expressed shock when Grocott's Mail asked them for comment on this practice.
"No, they can't do that without consulting with us first," said assistant director of the arks and Recreation Department Kevin Bates. "Either way we have to know, as they are going to have to book a new burial ground with us."
"An undertaker must do that… people can't just did graveyards as they please. There are laws and regulations." Mthuthuzeli Zuzile said the graveyard was dangerous.
"There are so many pathways through there. Some people walk through on their way to work, some children pass through when they go to school. They could get injured falling into the open pits."
"Criminals already use it to mug people and people can be raped in those open graveyards. It is seriously unsafe," said Zuzile.
Attempts to contact Ward 9 councillor, Kholiswa Jela, were unsuccessful.
