DAILY SUN FRONT PAGE
Daily Sun (August 16 2013) - LAST weekend a family went to perform a ritual at a grave shared by their parents. They were horrified by what they found there . . .
THE FLOWERS AND CANDLES THEY PUT THERE HAD BEEN THROWN AWAY - AND A TOTAL STRANGER HAD BEEN BURIED IN THE GRAVE!
Ntsiki Hindile from Mzimhlophe, Soweto, told Daily Sun: "Our mother died in 1981 and our father followed her 10 years later in 1991.
"They were together in life so we decided to bury them both in the same grave at Avalon Cemetery. Every year we came to perform rituals and put fresh flowers on their resting place.
"On Saturday we went there and found a name board of an old man in his 90s.
"When we asked at the office we were told a mistake happened and a family from Senaoane buried their relative in the wrong grave last December.
"So all along we were putting flowers on the wrong grave.
"This is ridiculous and traumatising. We buried our parents and people just come and dig up their grave, disturbing their peace.
"We want City Parks to resolve this issue because next month we were planning to erect a tombstone on the shared grave, but the shock we got made us stop the suppliers from delivering the tombstone.
"The office dealing with local graves told us they need three weeks to sort out the matter. We can't wait that long not knowing if our parents' bones are still there or not," she said.
Jenny Moodley, City Parks spokeswoman, said: "Joburg City Parks and Zoo is investigating the serious concern raised by the Hondile family.
"The confusion of the gravesite could likely be due to the various sections at Avalon Cemetery having similar grave numbers, leading family members to the incorrect gravesite to carry out traditional rituals.
"Families are advised to please make certain of the relevant sections and confirm gravesites prior to paying tributes, conducting a prayer or erecting tombstones in cemeteries. Enquiries in this regard can be directed to Cemeteries Administration on 011 712 6600 or contact the administration office based at some of the cemeteries.
"We would like to assure the Hondile family we are working to resolve this matter," she said.
See the Daily Sun mobi site for more on this and other stories....
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