Heartbreak for families as tombstones are vandalised

Families who have relatives buried at the Soshanguve Cemetery in Tshwane are angry that their tombstones have been vandalised.

The Ndlovu family visited the cemetery, north of Pretoria, over the Easter weekend, and found that their mother Sarah Ndlovu's tombstone had been demolished.

Theirs is one of more than 200 that have been vandalised in different sections of the cemetery.

Families are angry that the cemetery also has no fence around it to ensure that no unauthorised person gains entry.

Elias Ndlovu said when he asked the security guards about the incident in which his mother's tombstone was vandalised, he was told that a mentally disturbed person is responsible for the damages.

“I am very angry and sad at the same time because I feel that the security guards should have reported the person to the police on the spot,” he said.

His mother's tombstone was erected in 2004.

“We now have to pay another person to erect another one. The security guards also told us that it is not safe to come to the cemetery too early in the morning and in the evening as some people get robbed. 

“The city [of Tshwane] should not wait for a fatality to occur in order for them to act,” he said.

Ndlovu said more security measures should be implemented to ensure that the graveyard is safer.

“People should go in groups and leave their valuables behind,” said Ndlovu.

Mpho Mbelengoa of Winterveld told Sowetan that she saw a Facebook post in February about the vandalism and rushed to the graveyard immediately. Much to her shock, it was true.

Her sister Lydia Mbelengoa's tombstone, which was erected in 2018, was also damaged. “All the tombstones from the block which my sister is buried were demolished. It was hard to witness because I know the pain of [saving] for a tombstone,” she said.

She added that they feel disrespected and hurt as a family. “The tombstone was installed by the stokvel money and it took me five years to save for the costs,” said Mbelengoa, with emphasis that she was employed at the time.

“I am now unemployed and don’t have the financial ability to rebuild the tombstone.”

Nicolas Mndelebe, who lives two streets away from the gravesite, said he saw the man responsible for vandalising the tombstones and alerted security guards in February.

“When I first saw the guy, I thought he was just a passer-by because most people pass through the graveyard since there is no fence.”

He said seeing that many tombstones had been vandalised, he posted on Facebook to alert people to what was happening as he felt the message would spread faster on social media.

“Death is certain yet the life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living through tombstones,” he said, adding that tombstones are expensive and not all citizens can afford them.

He said that it pained him to see more tombstones being vandalised daily. “I wanted to put an end to this madness of someone disrespecting the dead,” said Mndebele.

A security guard who asked not to be identified told Sowetan that countless criminal activities occur inside the graveyard and it is unfortunate that there is nothing they can do.

“We often hear people screaming for help,” he said, adding that sometimes they feel helpless but there is nothing they can do as they also have to spare their own lives.

He explained that they always advice them to report the cases to the police but it is difficult for people to identify the perpetrators.

City of Tshwane spokesperson Lindela Mashego said the city enlists security services to guard cemeteries. However, the guards are unarmed, he said, adding that Soshanguve Cemetery was not the only graveyard being vandalised.

“Mamelodi Cemetery is also vandalised and we are working towards building more secured halls to try and reduce the crimes carried out at graveyards,” said Mashego.