The City of Johannesburg has launched a gravesite protection initiative after theft and vandalism were reported at several cemeteries in Gauteng.
The affected sites include Avalon, Slovoville and Doornkop cemeteries, SABC News reported on Tuesday. The damage and theft of tombstones have added financial costs and distress for families whose relatives are buried there.
Johannesburg Community Development MMC Thapelo Amad acknowledged the problem at the launch of the Gravesite Watch initiative. He said the city faces budget constraints and wants to work with private-sector organisations, churches, non-profit groups and civil society.
The initiative is intended to bring municipal authorities and community partners together to improve oversight of burial sites and reduce further damage. The city did not publish arrest figures, a monetary estimate of losses or a detailed implementation timetable in the information reported on Tuesday.
Tombstones can be targeted for their stone, metal fittings and other materials, while broader vandalism can leave graves and cemetery infrastructure damaged. Johannesburg manages a large network of public cemeteries, making monitoring and maintenance a substantial municipal task.
The Southern Africa Funerals and Tombstones Industry Institute is working with the city on the response, according to SABC News. The partnership was presented as part of a wider effort to involve industry and community organisations in protecting gravesites.
No individual or group was identified as responsible for the reported incidents. The city’s statement was a condemnation of the damage and an announcement of the new initiative, not a finding against any suspect.
Further details on reporting channels, patrol arrangements and participating organisations are expected to be provided as the Gravesite Watch programme is rolled out.
