Mogobane rebuffs SEDC�s cemetery overtures

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday December 5, 2017 18:33

The council made a proposal in which it wants the community to hand over their cemeteries to council for it to take care of them.  The council feels that the community is not doing enough to take care of the burial sites and some people also are taking advantage of this, by vandalising other people’s tombstones. 

SEDC chairperson, Phenyo Segokgo told Mogobane residents on Wednesday that the proposed law is not yet final.

“Some of the villages have agreed with the law, but the law is not forcing all communities or villages to hand over. Mogobane residents have the right to agree or not. The council will be the one digging for residents if there is a funeral and one would have to pay a little bit for digging. Council has also proposed how it will take care of these sites, unlike before,” Segokgo said.  

Segokgo said council has passed the motion of cemeteries and therefore each village is given up to 21 days to bring a formal answer to council.

He continued; “the tribe could still call a Kgotla meeting and consult on the matter. It should be clear that we are not taking any decisions on behalf of the village”.  Although different speakers did not agree with the motion brought by council, but they requested for some days to consult with the village youth on the matter since they are the ones who are normally digging.

Kefilwe Makgweng said, “Our youth are the ones who are always helping us on that aspect and it will be proper for us to consult them first. Again it will be best if the villagers do pay little amount to these voluntary youth than council. I hope Kgosi will call an urgent meeting on the matter so that we could discuss it objectively and our decision will be brought to council”.