CAPE TOWN grieving families cannot bury their loved ones due to flooded graveyards after heavy rains in the area.
The City of Cape Town’s Recreation and Parks Department said its cemetery operations were impacted by adverse weather conditions that left water tables high at some cemeteries.
MMC for Community Services and Health councilor, Patricia Van der Ross, said due to high water tables, residents may be forced to dig shallow graves for their loved ones as they cannot dig deeper due to water.
"Be aware that there might be a need to prepare shallow graves, depending on water table levels at a particular cemetery. This will limit the opportunity to bury a second coffin in the same private grave,” said Van der Ross.
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Nombulelo Hans (45) from Kuilsriver said they wanted to bury her mother in the same grave as her gogo on Saturday, 17 June at Welmoed cemetery in Eerste River.
“We couldn’t do that because the undertaker couldn’t get permission to reopen the grave because of the floods,” said Hans.
Van der Ross said where necessary they will not allow families to reopen graves.
“The city reserves the right to advise against requests for reopening of a family grave if it is in an area of the cemetery where it is very waterlogged, and/or recommend an alternate grave or an alternate cemetery,” she said.
The city has also warned that when carrying coffins, people must avoid standing too close to open graves.
“The Recreation and Parks Department has implemented mitigation measures, and the city appreciates the understanding and cooperation of families, mourners and undertakers during this time,” Van der Ross said.
