The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mafube in the Free State said it will write to the Department of Cooperative Governance (Cogta) to request funding from DESTEA and the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA) to develop and fence new cemeteries in the towns of Villiers, Tweeling, and Frankfort and extend the existing cemeteries in Villiers, Tweeling, and Cornelia.
Suzette Steyn, the DA Councilor in Mafube Local Municipality said the Mafube is facing a serious cemetery dilemma. The cemeteries are running out of space, are not maintained, and several graves have been damaged due to sinking.
Steyn mention that, in the 2020/2021 financial year, the municipality identified a site for establishing a cemetery in Frankfort (Dasklip). However, the city did not adequately follow the correct procedures to identify land for establishing a cemetery.
“This resulted in the burial of the deceased in a wetland, and the waterlogged graves began to collapse. Mafube municipality then resolved to start identifying suitable land for establishing new cemeteries (portions of farms from the relevant towns).” Said Steyn.
She stated that, Frankfort and Villiers, along with the adjacent townships (Namahadi and Qalabotjha), are currently facing a crisis of a shortage of burial sites. The cemeteries located in Mafahlaneng (Tweeling), Frankfort, and Qalabotjha have reached their full capacity, while Villiers and Tweeling are on the verge of reaching their full capacity, demanding an urgent need for extension.
“The municipality’s intentions to construct these cemeteries, for example, at the newly identified cemetery site at Skyfkamp, are currently on hold as the cash-strapped institution lacks the funding to appoint a relevant service provider to establish sustainable cemeteries. Residents are very distraught by the conditions of the Mafube cemeteries. They are left without maintenance, parking areas, or supervision and are becoming inaccessible.” Steyn reiterated.
The DA Councilor said the DA will continue to exert pressure on the management of Mafube to provide the residents with the service delivery and respect the burial places they deserve.
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