Eastern Cape burning graves leave many worried

THE people of Summerville in the Eastern Cape are worried that their ancestors are being disrespected.
That’s because piles of rubbish and empty booze bottles are being dumped at the local cemetery.
Residents said they have complained many times without getting any help.
Things got worse on Thursday when they found that some of the graves at Give-Knock Cemetery had been burnt.
Resident Makhi Mboniswa (42) told Daily Sun: “I got the shock of my life when I visited my parent’s gravesite.
“It was burnt and empty liquor bottles were all over the place.”
Community leader Eric Nogampula said he was shocked to find the tombstones of his siblings had been burnt.
“There was also rubbish on top of some of the graves,” said Eric.
“We reported this situation to the municipality last year. We were promised that cleaners would be sent in the first week of August. But it never happened.
“Instead our graves were burnt down this year.”
Eric said he went to the Addo Police Station to report the matter.
However, Chief Superintendent Wilfred Klaas said they were not aware of the matter.
“We are going to send a team to find out what has been happening to the graves,” said Klaas.
Mayor Zolile Lose said: “Farmers around Summerville dump rubbish wherever they feel like.
“Our plan is to monitor the dumping site and cemetery.”