Burials at the Jamestown Cemetery in Stellenbosch have continued to stay on hold following recent flooding in the area.
This was according to Stuart Grobbelaar, communications manager for Stellenbosch Municipality.
The “devastating floods”, caused by heavy rainfall, occurred between 24 and 25 September, said Grobbelaar.
The cemetery was initially closed after the extensive rainfall in June, stated Grobbelaar.
No clear solution
When SMF News visited the cemetery on 2 October, several of the graves were water-logged.
The Jamestown Cemetery remains closed following heavy rain and flooding between 24 and 25 September, said Stuart Grobbelaar, communications manager for Stellenbosch Municipality. The cemetery was originally closed after the flooding in June, said Grobbelaar. Several of the graves (pictured above) were waterlogged following the recent rainfall. All images were taken on 2 October. PHOTO: Joseph Bracken.
The stormwater systems were cleared and sandbags were used in an attempt to divert the water, in preparation for the rainfall, explained Grobbelaar.
The cemetery has not yet been reopened because of the “high underground water table” brought on by the winter rainfall, said Grobbelaar.
However, burial services can continue at other cemeteries in the area, such as the cemetery located in Onder Papegaaiberg until the water table is suitable, he said.
The Devon Park Cemetery (pictured above) in Onder Papegaaiberg is one of the cemeteries where undertakers are requested to carry out burial services for Jamestown residents, said Stuart Grobbelaar, communications manager for Stellenbosch Municipality. The Jamestown cemetery has been closed since June because of heavy winter rainfall and flooding, according to Grobbelaar. PHOTO: Joseph Bracken
“I was not aware of the flooding [of the cemetery],” said Mynard Slabbert, councillor for Ward 21, which covers the Jamestown area, in an interview with SMF News. “It has not been brought to my attention.”
Due to the closure of the Jamestown Cemetery because of flooding, burials for Jamestown residents have been referred to other cemeteries in the Stellenbosch area by the municipality, said Stuart Grobbelaar, communications manager for Stellenbosch Municipality. One such cemetery is the Devon Park Cemetery (depicted above) in Onder Papegaaiberg, he said. GRAPHIC: Joseph Bracken
A recurring theme
This was not the first time that Jamestown Cemetery was closed due to winter rainfall since its opening in 1999, said Grobbelaar.
Maintenance concerns
The municipality plans on creating a new cemetery on a farm called Calcutta, towards Kraaifontein, said Grobbelaar. Site feasibility and environmental studies are being conducted, he added.
“[I] worry that once the cemetery [on] Calcutta is built that the Jamestown Cemetery will deteriorate,” said Franklin Adams, proportional councillor in Jamestown between 2011 and 2020, in an interview with SMF News.
“Cemeteries [in Stellenbosch] are maintained whether active or not,” according to Grobbelaar.