Neglect at Mountain Rise Cemetery highlighted

A PIETERMARITZBURG woman, Hlengiwe Khumalo, 43, who works in Johannesburg, expressed shame and felt the state of Mountain Rise Cemetery was disrespectful to the deceased after visiting her father's grave in July and December last year.

- THOBEKA NGEMA

In July, she travelled from Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg but could not reach the grave due to the heavy overgrowth. She contacted the mayor's office via WhatsApp regarding her inability to reach the site during a solo visit. They replied, apologised, and promised to resolve the issue.

Khumalo, accompanied by her two uncles and brother, returned in December, anticipating the need for tools. Armed with garden spades to clear the path and clean the grave, she successfully reached the site with the help of the men.

"At times, you're walking on graves because there is no path. You're apologising to the deceased for walking on their graves," Khumalo said.

"When I got there, I said, 'No way, we cannot live like this. We can't be subjected to such indignity. Our departed can't be subjected to such disrespect.

"After we were done cleaning my father's grave, I apologised to him. I promised to come back more often, to make more effort to make sure the place he is buried in, is clean."

Khumalo recorded a video and sent it to the mayor's office, illustrating the conditions she encountered during her visit to her father's grave.