Complaints have yet again surfaced of poor service delivery against the ANC-led Tshwane Council, with the focus once again on the poor upkeep and lack of security at the Laudium Cemetery.
This follows yet more fencing poles being stolen, that the community was busy installing, as the Council claimed they have ‘no money.’ Instead of the Cemetery being seen as a peaceful place of rest for the deceased, it has been a focus of ongoing theft, lack of maintenance and lack of security, with the Tshwane Council turning a blind eye to ongoing complaints of residents and the burial/Cemetery committees. The local ‘self-conceited’ ANC Ward Councillor, Patel, who has been approached many times by residents, concerning the ongoing problems at the Cemetery, has yet to get his comrades in the Council to resolve the ongoing problems at the Cemetery. Despite lucrative tenders given by the Tshwane Council to the respective security and maintenance contractors, the Cemetery remains unsafe and unkempt. In spite of security guards posted at the Cemetery, the theft of taps, fencing, name plates, lights and even bins are but a common recurrence. The Cemetery remains filled with nyaopes, who harass mourners visiting the graves of their dear ones and even during funeral times. The grass around graves has many times turned into bush, with contractors attending to it ‘once in a while,’ leaving local organisations or concerned residents to clean up the place. Such is the dire situation at the Laudium Cemetery, that concerned residents had to either replace the stolen taps and non-functioning lights, or allow water to gush out continuously due to the missing taps and to bury in darkness at night.
In the latest incident of theft, that was discovered the previous Sunday morning, a number of fencing poles that were cemented to the ground the previous day by the concerned ‘Muslim Cemetery Group’ were found to be stolen. The group, who on their own initiative, embarked on building a wall on the Western side of the Cemetery and replaced stolen palisade fencing, enforced with concrete, to stop thieves entering the Cemetery from the Itireleng squatter camp side.
Ismail Essa from the group, told the Laudium Sun, “It is not fair that we, as a community, have to keep on digging into our pockets to upkeep the Cemetery, which is supposed to be the responsibility of the Council. We have had many meetings with the officials and even Cllr Patel, concerning the problems at the Cemetery, but nothing has been done about it. Although the security company has now agreed to replace the poles that got stolen recently, my question is, ‘what about the money that the community had to fork out to replace all the other items that were stolen and the ongoing problem we are having with the nyaopes?’ In a short space of time we had several thefts at the Cemetery.”
A regular visitor to the Laudium Cemetery, Yusuf Adam Saleh Mohamed of 7th Avenue, Laudium, told the Laudium Sun, “This ongoing theft is truly frustrating and deeply upsetting. How can thieves steal from a Cemetery? It’s a disgrace to our society. These criminals clearly have no respect—not even for the dead. It’s heart-breaking that even those who have left this world, are not spared. We, the living, are already suffering from constant theft and crime, and now even those who are resting in their graves are being disturbed. This shows just how far things have fallen. Every Friday, I come here to pray, but I no longer feel safe. I find myself constantly looking over my shoulder, afraid that someone might rob or harm me, even here. A Cemetery is supposed to be a place of peace and reflection; where we grieve and honour our loved ones—but it seems that even this sacred space is no longer respected. This must stop! I call on the Tshwane Council to take serious, urgent action. Strict measures need to be put in place to protect this Cemetery space and ensure that those responsible for these disgraceful acts are brought to justice.”
Mohamed Reza Ahmed of Eldoglen told the Laudium Sun, “I often visit the Cemetery to pray for my loved ones, but I’ve noticed that crime around the area has increased. We need to make this Cemetery a safe place so that we can come here with peace of mind, without fear of being disturbed. Crime is everywhere, but the criminals should at least leave the Cemetery alone. Even if someone chooses a life of crime, they should still have some morals. Stealing from a Cemetery is absolutely outrageous and unacceptable. There needs to be a line, and these thieves have clearly crossed it.”
Allahudien Paleker, another concerned resident from Taj Street, Laudium, told the Laudium Sun, “Crime is truly out of control and we need to take action against all thieves, especially those who are stealing from the Cemetery. Many of us have loved ones buried here and it’s heart-breaking to see this sacred space being violated. We need to take strict measures to ensure the situation doesn’t get worse. The Cemetery should be a place of peace—a space where our families can come to pray for our loved ones in peace and without fear. It’s time for the community and authorities to act before it escalates further.”
Reports have surfaced that a suspect known as ‘Donald’ who lives in Itireleng, was seen carrying a fencing pole. Anyone who knows the whereabout of ‘Donald’ is asked to contact the Laudium Police.
The security guards at the Cemetery declined to comment on whether they have reported the theft to the Laudium Police.