As Muslims bury during all hours, including at night and visit the graveyard for praying, on certain religious nights, lighting plays an important function at the cemetery.
Now, with the theft of electric cables and the vandalism of light poles at the graveyard, the task of burying at night has been made very difficult. About 9 light poles were vandalised, and despite the poles of the lights being cut, with some ripped out from the ground, the three security guards per shift, contracted by council, did not see or hear anything strange this past early Wednesday morning (Oct 5).
The concern of the community regarding crime at the cemetery, is an ongoing matter, with many thefts reported even recently, including water taps and portions of the security fencing being stolen. Nyaopes continue to enter the cemetery freely, harass mourners for money and litter the place, without showing any respect to the graves. It is in this light that a concerned group, led by Ismail (Smiley) Essa, met last week (See Laudium Sun, Sept 30) with the security company responsible at the cemetery, to discuss the ongoing crime and scheduled a meeting with all interested parties for this past Wednesday, ironically the same day that a number of lights were vandalised and cables stolen. It was also decided at that meeting that the security would not allow the nyaopes into the cemetery, unless they were accompanied by one of the residents who had a family member buried there.
Meeting
At this Wednesday’s meeting, representatives from the Muslim, Tamil and Christian communities, together with other interested parties, including the CPF, met at the cemetery. Councillor Naeem Patel and his assistant, together with officials from the Tshwane Council and the security company were also present. Ismail who convened the meeting, outlined the concerns of the community including the unacceptably poor service of the security company and those responsible for keeping the cemetery clean. Cllr Patel told the meeting that each time he complained to Council officials about the poor condition of the Laudium Cemetery, he was told that the Council has no money. He added that the replacement of the lights should be done as a priority and said that Council should insist that the security company foots the bill.
The security guards complained that local residents harass them and swear at them, when they do not let nyaopes enter the cemetery or allow the residents to give food to the nyaopes inside the cemetery, which is believed to be one of the reasons the nyaopes are flocking to the cemetery. The guards also complained that they could not monitor the place properly, as the entire fencing on the Western side of the cemetery has been stolen and that it was virtually impossible to run after the thieves at night in that area, due to limited resources, confessing that they did not have torches.
Ismail added that it would cost around R270K to replace the fencing and secure the remaining existing fencing with concrete blocks. He added that the Council had given permission to replace the fencing, but stressed that the Council had no money, thus the community had to raise the money.
A proposal made by Ismail and his team some time back to Council to at least give a rebate for grave charges, if the community is expected to fund the replacement of the stolen fencing, was rejected by the officials.
PMT member Mohamed Ayob, said he had witnessed a nyaope, urinating on one of the graves and was very concerned about the safety of mourners attending the cemetery.
The meeting then decided that an NPO Company be formed, whereby the relevant role players would be members, with the aim to call on Council to rather give the security and cleaning contracts to the NPO, so that locals could be hired and the cemetery be taken care of, by the community. The members to be part of the NPO include, Ismail Essa, representatives from each of the two non-profit Muslim Burial Committees, Jay Chinsamy and Pastor Naiker.
A resident from Agra Street West, who did not want to be identified, told the Laudium Sun, that he heard sounds of a grinder coming from the cemetery in the early hours of the morning, but did not think much of it as he thought, “What could anyone steal there.” Much to his surprise he learnt later that it was the light poles that were being cut, but that the three security guards did not hear anything.
Ranegi Chetty from Brown Str, told the Laudium Sun, “The crime incidents in Laudium are getting out of hand. It’s not the first time that cables are being stolen and I am getting fed up of this crime. Where are the security guys when all this is happening.”
Rushdia Ismail, also from Brown Str said, “The security guards are getting paid for nothing, they are not even doing their job properly at the Laudium Cemetery.”
