Families who have buried their loved ones at Maitland graveyard are worried as the graves are flooded in some parts of the graveyard. Many fear that the repeated flooding at the cemetery will cause the graves to collapse.
The problem has been ongoing, even last year, the graveyard suffered the same problem. The City said they have been trying to deal with the problem by ensuring water channels and drainage systems are not blocked. Despite the efforts, the problem keeps coming back.
The Mayco member for Community Services and Health Patricia Van der Ross said some of the graves are in low-lying areas hence the flooding. She added that some of the areas in the graveyard have a higher water table which causes flooding.
Due to have rains that has hit Cape Town since last week, even the dead are affected. “We say the deceased must rest in peace but surely, they cannot when they are in a pool of water like this. I wish the municipality can do something about this because it happens every year. It is painful to see the grave of your relative in a pool of water for weeks,” said a Kensington resident Tommy Adam.
Van der Ross said they are restricting the reopening of the old graves in cases were families want to reuse the same grave.
“The Department is regularly engaging undertakers and families to explain that when family graves are required to be reopened for second burials, high water table conditions may prohibit burials in winter,” she added.