GEORGE NEWS - In recent weeks visitors to the York Street Cemetery were shocked by the state of neglect they encountered at the facility at the bottom of York Street in George.

At places weeds are standing shoulder high and mourners virtually need GPS coordinates to locate a loved one’s grave.
Several irate readers have contacted the George Herald to complain about the situation.

Coenie Ritter from George says family that came to visit over the festive season were stunned by the sorry state of affairs. "Never have they seen a cemetery in such a state. I realise the rain had an impact, but the level of neglect is the result of months of inactivity. Every grave is paid for and surely maintenance is part of the budget?"

Waradeah Grove from Pacaltsdorp says the lack of care is a crying shame. "It is so sad to think that my husband has to lie amongst such neglect."

Radie Loubser, George parks and recreation project manager, admits he is being bombarded with complaints. "The situation is totally unacceptable and I apologise unconditionally. All that I can say is that administrative delays out of our control have impacted on the process to appoint a contractor."

The contract of the previous maintenance contractor expired over a year ago, but Loubser is keeping mum on what exactly the administrative delays entail. "Pointing fingers won’t change anything. As the responsible line official the buck stops with me and I have to take my very public beating like a man. It isn’t easy, but I have no choice."

Loubser says the cemetery should be back to normal within the next month. This week workers could already be seen wielding weed-eaters, shovels and spades. "In 10 days’ time all the weeds will be gone and by mid February all routine maintenance will be completed." Apart from weeding they will spray chemicals, fill up sunken graves and scrape the gravel roads.

"In December we managed to finish a small section of the cemetery, but the heavy rain and workers who failed to show, threw a spanner in the works."

Loubser says routine maintenance of the cemetery comes to about R14 000 per month and to maintain all nine cemeteries costs R1-million per year.

The Memorium Street, Blanco, Rosemoor and old Thembalethu cemeteries were cleaned before Christmas. An astonishing 24 loads of domestic waste had to be trucked from the cemetery in Thembalethu.

Loubser says security is a huge headache. "The situation should improve once a visible, permanent contractor takes over. Vandals regularly damage the headstones and cut the fencing and at the Memorium Street Cemetery cast iron was stolen from the surrounding fence."

Loubser is confident that a long term contractor will take over within the next few months. "We are also looking at ways to boost job creation, but the decision rests with council."
Apart from the maintenance work that has temporarily fallen by the wayside, sporadic flooding of the graves is also a real problem.

In July last year many graves were completely submerged. The shallow water table makes the area an inappropriate site for a cemetery.

The only solution is an extensive new drainage system - at this stage an option too expensive to implement.
Newly appointed acting municipal manager, Trevor Botha said the maintenance of the cemeteries and the appointment of a new contractor is top priority and receiving urgent attention.


This week workers were hard at work clearing the cemetery of weeds and other unwelcome growth.

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS: ILSE SCHOONRAAD