With families preparing to lay their loved ones to rest this weekend in mind the City of Cape Town’s Recreation and Parks Department has warned of possible flooding and associated risks at local cemeteries, and to exercise caution.
This as the rain continues to wreak havoc across the Cape Metro and the South African Weather Service (SAWS) forecasts more rain tomorrow (Saturday 28 June).
The City said the rain could pose a serious challenge for those wishing to bury their loved ones.
Francine Higham, Mayco member for Community Services and Health, warned the public and undertakers to be mindful of the unsympathetic conditions. “Experience has shown that consistent rainfall and/or periods of heavy downpours cause the water-table level to rise, which has the potential to impact such operations as digging graves or the reopening of family plots for second burials. The Recreation and Parks Department has winter-readiness plans and contingencies in place to ensure every effort is made to mitigate the risk of inclement weather. This includes clearing alien vegetation to maximise burial space, servicing water pumps, repairing potholes on internal cemetery roads and clearing storm water channels to promote drainage.
“While staff try to be as proactive as possible, saturated water tables or flooding poses challenges that are not always easily resolved. The department asks that undertakers and families planning burials please be mindful that these conditions may require shallower graves or alternative burial sites. We also urge undertakers and officiants to try and expedite burials so traffic can be managed more effectively in and out of the cemeteries and also to limit people’s exposure to conditions underfoot.”
