The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has condemned the theft and vandalism of tombstones at the Forest Hill Cemetery in Gqeberha, following reports from concerned residents who highlighted the damage caused to some graves.
During an oversight visit conducted on Tuesday, January 30, NMBM Public Health Portfolio Head, Councillor Tshonono Buyeye, said that the metro had started to notice the inhumane trend of theft and vandalism at some of the cemeteries.
The site visit was conducted to assess the extent of the damage caused by thieves, in an effort to find sustainable solutions to the problem.
“We don’t want to speculate what is behind this problem, but what was important was for us to come here first following the numerous reports we received, supported by videos, to assess the extent of the damage.
“From this visit we can see that some of the graves were legally reopened and not closed properly, and now it looks like vandalism but it is not. Other graves are sinking naturally because of the sandy soil, but we don’t want to run away from the fact that there is theft and vandalism taking place here,” said Buyeye.
NMBM’s Public Health and Safety and Security directorates are discussing short-term and long-term solutions that will be implemented to curb the problem.
Residents are encouraged to report any suspected theft of tombstones to the SAPS or NMBM on 041 508 5548 or 041 585 1555.
