The community of Zwelethemba met on Thursday 14 August with representatives of the Breede Valley Municipality (BVM) to discuss the closure of the Zwelethemba Cemetery, which is nearing full capacity. From 1 September funerals will be conducted at the Worcester Cemetery.
John Bulani, spokesperson of BVM, confirmed the cemetery cannot be extended as national regulations stipulate existing graveyards may only be extended if adjoining land is available that is not within 500 m of a residential area.
“Worcester Cemetery is still the only suitable site to accommodate both Rawsonville and Zwelethemba, in line with the Department of Health (DoH) regulations,” he said.
Zwelethemba Cemetery will be used only by those who already have plots. It will remain open to visit the graves of loved ones. The fencing and the access road through Transhex will depend on the municipality’s adjustment budget in February next year.
According to Bulani Block E at Worcester Cemetery will be used for cultural burials. The tariffs will remain te same and 45 minutes will be provided for funeral services at the new cemetery. Bookings for cultural funerals will be done at the Multi Purpose Centre in Zwelethemba. Bookings for burials in Block A-D must be done at the municipal Main Building, 3rd Floor.
The municipality will provide traffic escort for funeral services and families and funeral parlours must book in time.
A caretaker and general worker have been appointed through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) to maintain the Zwelethemba Cemetery.
