BECAUSE of the heavy rain in the Eastern Cape, five Nelson Mandela Bay cemeteries have been closed, leaving thousands of angry mourners with disrupted funeral arrangements.
The Motherwell and Missionvale cemeteries in Port Elizabeth, as well as the Uitenhage’s Matanzima, Gerald Smith and Kabah cemeteries will be closed for the weekend.
Aubrey Lupondwana (76) from KwaNobuhle kasi in Uitenhage said the funeral of his sister, Agnes Parkies (84) can’t wait any longer.
“My sister died on Monday 13 July,” said Aubrey.
“Her grandsons and my children from Joburg and Pretoria will be attending the funeral. They have already booked their flights and taken leave from work.”
He insists the funeral will take place this weekend.
“We’ve had heavier rain than this before,” he added.
“The headstone reads: buried on 25 July. We will look like fools if we bury her next weekend.”
Agnes’ daughter, Cleo Stanley (38) told Daily Sun: “It looks as if I’ve taken leave for nothing. Why did the municipality not consult us before they took the decision?”
Themba Xatula – who was expecting to bury his sister Noxolo Mpushe at Matanzima Cemetery tomorrow – said: “A by-law that stops us from conducting funerals due to rain is new to me. This is nonsense.”
Municipal spokesman Mthubanzi Mniki said a number of cemeteries are badly waterlogged and will be closed this weekend.
“The Directorate of Parks and Cemeteries will be monitoring the situation. We wish to extend our deepest apologies and compassion to the bereaved families affected by the closure. The decision was taken in the interests of everyone’s safety,” said Mniki.
He added that the rain has prompted the evacuation of about 15 people from Shamrock, near St Albans, who have been moved to Kuyga Community Hall.
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