Provided
Vandals targeting Jubilee Park Cemetery in Kariega left a wanton trail of destruction as nearly 100 headstones were damaged or destroyed.
A resident, Leon Coleske, visited his parents’ graves earlier this month and said he was shocked to see the situation getting worse.
He blamed the vandalism on drug addicts who continue to plague the community.
Coleske said during his visit that the small office by the front door was locked with no guard in sight and after avoiding a huge pothole on his way in he was greeted by the destroyed memorial wall.
Algoa FM News has approached the Municipality of Nelson Mandela Bay for comment.
Spokeswoman Mamela Ndamase said there is no longer a security guard assigned to the cemetery due to budget constraints in the city.
She said, however, that a caretaker mows the lawn every month.
Asked about the responsibility to clean up and restore damaged graves, Ndamase said that historically it was the responsibility of locals.
“The Municipality has no policy that mandates the Department of Public Health to carry out such work,” she said.
Families wishing to replace the headstones would have to pay an additional R5,000-15,000 depending on the damage.
