New plan for criminals to clean cemeteries

CRIMINALS sentenced to community service or "soft offenders" on probation could soon be cleaning Nelson Mandela Bay's cemeteries to help resolve the city's problem of staff shortages and a lack of funds.

Although the plan was initially shot down by councillors who felt that it would take away jobs from cooperatives in the Bay, the public health portfolio committee finally agreed to the proposal yesterday.

If the plan is approved by the mayoral committee and full council, it will mean that offenders sentenced to do community service work could cut grass, clean flower beds and prune trees at cemeteries in the Bay.

Public health acting executive director Joram Mkosana assured councillors that the programme would not replace the Extended Public Works Programme, or take away jobs. The officials reported that the parks were well maintained, of a high standard and secure, with security guards and vandal-proof fencing.

Also, each park had an information centre, plants and trees were clearly labelled and all were equipped with outdoor gymnasiums. - Rochelle de Kock