Severe weather impacts Cape cemetries

The City of Cape Town says its Recreation and Parks Department is closely monitoring the situation at cemeteries, amid consistent rainfall and periods of heavy downpours over the past few days.

According to Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Patricia Van der Ross, the rainfall causes the water table level to rise, which then has the potential to impact operations, like digging graves, or reopening family graves.

PHOTO - CoCT: Maitland Cemetery

She added that this is a recurring challenge during periods of severe weather conditions, and the past few days have been especially trying.

‘’Unfortunately there are no quick fixes for a saturated water table or flooding in the cemeteries. The Recreation and Parks Department is working to manage the situation as best as possible, but we do appeal for the cooperation and understanding of families and undertakers planning burials during this time. We also want to appeal to funeralgoers to please exercise caution due to the conditions underfoot in cemeteries,’’ said Van der Ross.

The Mayco Member advised the public that cemetery staff might need to prepare shallower graves, depending on water table levels at a particular cemetery.

‘’This will limit the opportunity to bury a second coffin in the same private grave. The City also reserves the right to advise against requests for reopening of a family grave if it is in an area of the cemetery where it is very waterlogged and/or recommend an alternate grave or an alternate cemetery,’’ said Patricia Van der Ross, Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health.

She shared the following tips for cemetery use during adverse weather:

·        Parking, roads and pathways might be unusually flooded, or slippery, and the public is advised to exercise extreme caution.

·        Wear suitable weatherproof clothing and waterproof non-slip shoes to avoid slipping and puddles.

·        Arrive timeously at the burial and do not exceed the 30-minute timeslot so as to alleviate parking congestion.

·        Consider a smaller number of people attending burials, particularly during episodes of inclement weather.

·        Exercise caution when carrying coffins and avoid standing too close to open graves.

·        Consider weekday burials to reduce overcrowding in cemeteries on weekends.

·        Undertakers to exercise caution with Gazebos which are prone to injuring mourners if swept away in the wind.

 

Done by: Stephanie van Rayen