DA slams Emfuleni municipality for R15 million cemetery outsourcing blunder

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Emfuleni has slammed the municipality for wasting R15 million on outsourced cemetery services, accusing officials of reckless spending while residents continue to suffer from collapsing infrastructure and poor service delivery.

This comes after Kingsol Chabalala, the DA’s constituency head for Emfuleni North, revealed that over the past five financial years (2019–2024), the municipality spent a staggering R15 million paying 65 different service providers for basic cemetery maintenance and grass-cutting.

“This spending is concerning, as the municipality has a Parks and Recreation Department equipped with full-time employees and the necessary equipment to handle these tasks.”

Chabalala further stated that the DA will be submitting formal questions to Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Jacob Mamabolo, to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the municipality’s current staff, particularly in light of the ongoing outsourcing of duties they are employed to perform.

Previously, IOL reported in detail on the growing concern around neglected cemeteries in Emfuleni, situated in the Vaal Triangle, which have become dangerous hotspots for criminal activity. Due to the municipality’s failure to maintain these graveyards, leaving them overgrown with tall grass and surrounded by broken fencing, criminals have found ideal hiding places to operate in. 

Evaton resident Nomsa Macha expressed frustration over the lack of basic facilities at the local cemeteries, noting that there are no toilets or access to water available on-site.

“There is no security, and I was once robbed at gunpoint inside the graveyard. I hear people complaining about the same thing.”

She added that it’s difficult to locate her family’s graves as they are hidden beneath thick weeds and overgrown grass.

Another resident, Lebohang Mabitle, echoed Macha’s concerns, saying they frequently hear gunshots coming from the graveyard, making the area feel unsafe.

“And we are also struggling to find our family graves because the grass keeps growing and the municipality never sends people to come and cut it,” she said.

However, Emfuleni Municipality Communications Manager Makhosonke Sangweni dismissed the allegations, stating that the municipality has systems in place to maintain cemeteries across the region. He explained that graveyards are cleaned on a rotational basis and that the municipality is fulfilling its mandate by cutting grass, pruning trees, and maintaining the overall grounds.

Sangweni clarified that while the municipality ensures the general upkeep of the cemetery environment, the responsibility for maintaining individual gravesites lies with the respective families. He maintained that the municipality continues to do its part despite resource constraints and urged residents to distinguish between municipal responsibilities and personal obligations in cemetery care.

He added that the use of external contractors is intended to support the municipality’s efforts, especially given challenges like limited staffing and insufficient equipment. According to Sangweni, outsourcing is a practical solution to ensure essential services, such as cemetery maintenance, are carried out effectively despite internal resource constraints.

“It is not true that Parks and Cemeteries are fully equipped.  In Parks, there are employees who do grass-cutting, and they do. The Municipality has just procured equipment valued at R1.7 million to support the grass-cutting service at Parks.  However, during rainy seasons, grass grows fast. This is when complementary services are required.” 

Sangweni further explained that cemeteries are currently staffed only with caretakers who assist in coordinating funerals, but not with grave-digging. He added that the municipality is exploring the possibility of reinstating a dedicated grave-digging team. However, this plan would require acquiring the necessary equipment, which the municipality currently lacks.

When asked about the payment breakdown for each service provider from 2019 to 2024, he said contracts are usually signed for three-year periods.

Sangweni said staff will be urged to upkeep cemeteries, and called on residents to report crime. “We encourage our employees to maintain cemetery grounds, and the public must report any criminal activity to the Municipality and SAPS,” he said.

The Star sought comment from the Office of the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), but the department had not responded to queries at the time of going to print.

The Star

masabata.mkwananzi@inl.co.za