Note to Editors: Please find attached English soundbite by Cllr Ntombi Mokoena, Afrikaans soundbite by Cllr Anelia Smit and Sesotho soundbite by David Masoeu MPL. See attached pictures here and here.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Phumelela will submit a formal request to the Phumelela Technical Department and the Office of the Municipal Manager for an urgent maintenance intervention at the Thembalihle Cemetery, following reports of severe neglect that have resulted in the desecration of burial sites.
An oversight inspection has revealed that overgrown grass now obscures tombstones, rendering the cemetery indistinguishable from an unmaintained field.
The most distressing aspect of this situation is the lack of a perimeter fence or any other barrier separating the cemetery from the public street. Without a clear demarcation, passersby are inadvertently stepping on graves, a situation that is deeply painful for the families living directly across from the site.
The DA maintains that the Phumelela Local Municipality has failed in its basic administrative and moral duty to safeguard these sacred spaces. By allowing the graveyard to become an open thoroughfare, the municipality is effectively permitting the trampling of the community’s history and heritage.
We are calling for the immediate clearing of all overgrown vegetation and the urgent installation of a security fence to protect the site. It is the responsibility of the local government to ensure that municipal facilities are managed with the respect they deserve.
We remain committed to ensuring that the people of Thembalihle can visit their loved ones in a clean, secure, and dignified space.
We will not allow this silent desecration to continue due to municipal inaction and will follow all local Council procedures to ensure it is prioritised in the upcoming budget.