COPS in Cape Town have bust a man with palisade fencing material stolen from Maitland Cemetery on Tuesday night, 12 November.
According to the City of Cape Town’s Law Enforcement spokesman, Wayne Dyason, the man stole the fencing material and was caught while painting it to change the colour.
“In Kensington, one male suspect was arrested for possession of stolen council property. Law Enforcement officers received an anonymous tip of stolen city fencing, which was stolen from the Kensington Cemetery and stored at a private residence.
“Officers followed up and found a suspect painting the fencing, changing the colour. He was placed under arrest and detained at Kensington SAPS,” said Dyason.
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Mandisa Mbongendlu (45) from Goodwood said it is bad that people disrespect the final resting place of other people’s ancestors.
“The fence is protecting the dead and it is disrespectful to be stealing from the dead. The next thing you see is a tombstones being stolen or vandalised at these graves. People will have free passage to walk into the cemetery because the fence is stolen,” she said.
Hawkers who sell fruit and vegetables next to the graveyard said part of the stolen fence was replaced barely a year ago after it was stolen.
“It was stolen and was replaced sometime and we were shocked to see that it was stolen again. It is the very same spot,” said one of the hawkers.
