Heavy Rains: Graves Collapsing at Ngwane Park Cemetery
Please visit cemetery and ascertain your loved one’s grave is still intact. It is no doubt that the incessant heavy rains have taken a toll on municipal infrastructure. Graves in the cemeteries have not been spared.
Manzini News this week visited the Ngwane Park cemetery and was confronted with a sight that was so shocking. A number of graves that are without tombstones are sinking. Those that are covered with concrete slab are also collapsing.
The big question is; when last did you visit either the Golf Course or Ngwane Park cemeteries to check whether or not your loved one’s grave needs attention? Are you one of those who buried their loved ones, left the graveyard and never looked back? If so, who do you expect to take care of your loved one’s grave? The Municipal Council of Manzini? Well, perhaps it is appropriate to clarify that the responsibility to take care of the grave at the cemetery is not really that of the local government but solely that of the relatives of the one who is buried. Council’s responsibility is only the removal of overgrown vegetation. Whenever defects arise on the grave, Council does not even attempt to fix them as that is a matter which has to be addressed by relatives of the buried person. This is supported by Regulation 15 of the Manzini Cemeteries Regulations, 1969.
Manzini News, therefore, takes this opportunity to plead with residents and all other people who have their loved ones buried in any of the two cemeteries (or any other in the city) to go on site and see to it that their loved ones’ graves are still in a good condition.
On another note, members of the public are urged to ensure that they engage skilled people to prepare graves for their loved ones; particularly whenever building blocks and other concrete works are to be utilized. It appears the situation that has been briefly narrated above is a result of poor workmanship during burial.
In the event that you have forgotten the grave number, please feel free to approach Council’s Community Services Department so that you can duly be assisted.
A word of caution though; please do remember that if you wish to put a tombstone on your loved one’s grave, you need to first submit an application to Council and you will thereafter be accordingly directed as to how to go about doing so. On the same vein, during burial please do not reduce the spacing in between the graves. It is meant for a purpose.
