A building in Ocean View cemetery its workers operate from, which is dark and dilapidated with broken windows that have allegedly not been fixed since 2015, is raising concern about the conditions under which they work.
The condition of the building was brought to light during a site visit by Ward 61 councillor Simon Liell-Cock on Wednesday 13 September.
“The state of the building is dilapidated and is unacceptable. I hear it has been like that for a while, since 2015,” he said.
“They never raised the issue with me and I have come to the cemetery a lot but I just don’t go into the building because I’m usually here for a funeral.”
Entering a dark, dingy-looking room during load shedding, workers led Liell-Cock to a side room to point the broken window out.
“I’m a little concerned that it has been so long because repairs and maintenance do not need capital. Obviously, in the City’s needs, in terms of the law governing municipal operations, it must prioritise to spend money where the biggest needs are.”
He added that the biggest needs, such as safety and security, jobs and housing usually take priority.
“Budget cuts occur where things are not in the public eye all the time and things do become neglected.
“So, it is up to us to bring that to the fore, to push it through the sub council level and raise it with the appropriate department.
“That needs to get done because it is unacceptable.”
Commenting on issues at the cemetery, Liell-Cock said it had been brought to his attention that the Muslim section of Ocean View Cemetery was also getting full.
“So, we do have to make a plan here.
“What’s going to happen is something I will have to follow up on.
“Cemeteries and crematoriums are local government-mandated but as cemeteries get full one needs to have new sites because one cannot use valuable housing space for this purpose.”
Liell-Cock added other issues faced include the volume of funerals on Sundays.
“The City has in various ways tried to say it is cheaper to do it in the week. This is encouraged because being buried on a Sunday or a weekend places too much demand on the cemetery.
“There are only so many funerals one can have on a Sunday. Cremations are less heavy, but some religions don’t allow this.”
