A Zwide man is devastated after the burial site of his parents was desecrated – with a concrete slab stolen, the gravestone knocked down and the shared grave sunken in.
Mzwandile Mashelele, 34, visited the grave at the Zwide Cemetery – where both his parents are buried – on Saturday with his three children and aunt Fanisani Mashelele, 63.
But instead of honouring his father, Albert, who died in July, on his 70th birthday on Saturday, Mashelele said he and his family just sat at the grave site sobbing.
“What a shocking sight on my father’s birthday,” Mashelele said.
“My little daughter even asked whether her grandfather’s remains were still there.
“We were all in tears and just kept crying.”
Mashelele found that the concrete slab covering the grave had been stolen. He also saw that the gravestone had been knocked down.
The grave where Albert and his wife, Nontsikelelo, 68 – who died in 2014 – were buried had also caved in.
Mashelele said he had reported the vandalism and theft to the police.
“We just wanted to wish him a happy birthday and that he continue to rest in peace.”
He said he had visited the grave site twice between September and October and there was no damage.
“We are traumatised. “We are now desperate to know if my parents’ caskets are even in the ground.”
He said the family had approached the municipality for permission to exhume the bodies of his parents to ensure they were still buried there.
Struggle veterans like Govan Mbeki are also buried at the historic cemetery.
Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said an investigation was under way.
“The complainant went to the Zwide Cemetery on Saturday and found the slab covering the grave stolen.
“We will do anything to get to the bottom of this,” he said.
Municipal spokesperson Mthubanzi Mniki said the metro was also investigating the theft and vandalism.