News / Africa
Criminals vandalizes graves
27 Dec 2015 at 12:01hrs | Views
Criminals at Rembrandt Park in Johannesburg have reportedly resorting to vandalizing some tomb stones soon after the burial of the deceased persons.
Daily Sun reported that Jane Thomas (59) of Rembrandt Park, Joburg said her late daughter's tombstone, along with others in West Park cemetery, have been vandalised. They have one thing in common: The aluminium window frames that once adorned the tombstones were stolen.
"Two weeks ago my grandchild visited my late daughter's grave to put fresh flowers on her tombstone. While she was there she called me and, to my horror, said that the tombstone had been vandalised. She was so upset. She was crying uncontrollably. I drove to see the damage myself. The windows that surrounded my daughter's tombstone had been smashed to pieces and the aluminium window frames were no longer there," she said.
Jane said a guard informed her that it was just one of many tombstones that had been vandalised.
"He showed me 10 tombstones which had the aluminium window frames stolen. Those window frames are apparently a hot commodity in the township," said Jane.
She wants cemetery management to beef up security.
"The guards are stationed near the gate. That is where the graves of ANC stalwarts are. If anything happens to those graves, the guards are able to see it immediately. Why can't that type of security be extended to the whole graveyard? God doesn't favour struggle heroes over ordinary citizens. The dead must be treated equally," she said.
SAPS spokesman Captain Thekiso Mofokeng said victims should open cases of malicious damage to property.
Daily Sun reported that Jane Thomas (59) of Rembrandt Park, Joburg said her late daughter's tombstone, along with others in West Park cemetery, have been vandalised. They have one thing in common: The aluminium window frames that once adorned the tombstones were stolen.
"Two weeks ago my grandchild visited my late daughter's grave to put fresh flowers on her tombstone. While she was there she called me and, to my horror, said that the tombstone had been vandalised. She was so upset. She was crying uncontrollably. I drove to see the damage myself. The windows that surrounded my daughter's tombstone had been smashed to pieces and the aluminium window frames were no longer there," she said.
Jane said a guard informed her that it was just one of many tombstones that had been vandalised.
She wants cemetery management to beef up security.
"The guards are stationed near the gate. That is where the graves of ANC stalwarts are. If anything happens to those graves, the guards are able to see it immediately. Why can't that type of security be extended to the whole graveyard? God doesn't favour struggle heroes over ordinary citizens. The dead must be treated equally," she said.
SAPS spokesman Captain Thekiso Mofokeng said victims should open cases of malicious damage to property.
Source - Daily Sun
