The Democratic Alliance (DA) is taking immediate action to address the appalling state of the Cradock cemetery in the Inxuba Yethemba Municipality. The cemetery’s condition is a glaring display of disrespect to the memory of the deceased and those who visit to pay their respects.
The cemetery, established in the early 1800s, lies in a state of utter disarray, with graves scattered randomly across the site. It seems that whenever a vacant space is identified, a new grave is dug without any consideration for the site’s historical integrity or spatial planning.
[see pictures here, here and here]
The most alarming possibility is that, due to the cemetery’s age and lack of proper control, management, and supervision, individuals may be buried on top of existing graves, raising legitimate concerns about desecration.
I have submitted a request to the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) and the Eastern Cape Provincial Heritage Resources Authority (ECPHRA) to investigate and take necessary intervention measures to safeguard the historical integrity and significance of this site.
Furthermore, I have also written to the Mayor of the Inxuba Yethemba Municipality, requesting urgent intervention due to this blatant disregard for rules, regulations, and municipal bylaws.
The municipality is failing in the following areas:
- Proper care must be taken of the grave sites.
- Guidelines for burials, including required documentation and grave plot allocation, must be followed.
- A detailed record of burials and grave locations must be maintained.
The cemetery urgently requires immediate attention and proper management to restore its dignity and former glory as a sacred place of honour and remembrance.
The DA will not tolerate this affront any longer. The people of Cradock and the memories of their loved ones deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.