Rusthof Cemetery: A plea for respect and restoration from grieving families

A Tafelsig resident highlights the poor state of Rusthof Cemetery in Strand, urging authorities to restore dignity to the graves that are currently shrouded in rubble.

Junaid Arnolds said that he has family buried in the graveyard and regularly visits to maintain the graves of his departed mother and brother.

He claims that some sunken graves were ‘repaired’ by the municipality with rubble, big rocks and cement. 

But he says the graveyard is a state with loose soil and debris left on top of surrounding graves, leaving it to look unkempt.

Arnolds explained: “I grew up in Strand and have loved ones buried there,  like my mother and my brother and more family members, but things are very bad at that cemetery. 

“The cemetery holds our history. I understand the city workers filled the sunken graves with rubble, rock, hard clay and just left it like that. 

“Some of that rubble landed on the other graves as well because some of the rubble from the other graves is now on existing graves. 

“It is uneven, unsafe and looks like a building site. The cemetery should be a place of peace and dignity, not a place of mess.

“I often go to the graveyard and take care of my family’s graves. I also clean other graves by removing (onkruid) weed. But in the last two months, things have gotten worse. 

“I am very hurt and disappointed about this mess. Where is the respect and peace for our loved ones? 

“I was at the cemetery again on Sunday, and it is still in the same condition. Seeing the graves surrounded by rubble and big rocks is disrespectful. 

“Families come to mourn, not to walk over stones and check out for holes and throw rubble around.

“We tried our best to clean some of the graves, but there are too many. Our elderly people come to the graves, but they can’t walk properly because it is unsafe. 

“I understand the ground is hard but I suggest they do a better job and use proper soil instead of all that rubble to restore dignity. It is not about blame but about doing the right thing.”

The City's City’s Recreation and Parks Department responded, saying: "The Recreation and Parks Department has not received complaints regarding the condition of the cemetery.

"The City is aware of the soil conditions at the Rusthof Cemetery which are different to other sandy soil conditions common in other City Cemeteries.

"Despite the challenges with soil, the department endeavours to back fill the graves carefully so as to preserve the dignity of the burial procedures.

"The City has obtained environmental approval for the extension of Rusthof Cemetery.

"Presently, the construction of roads and burial blocks is underway."

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