Graves mix-up infuriates families
The remains were exhumed from the graves and relocated to a new cemetery to ensure that they would not be disturbed during mining processes
SOME families who were removed from Dubelenkuzi Reserve in Mtubatuba to make a way for the Thendele Coal Mine, demand compensation after the mine allegedly failed to properly identify the graves of their late family members.
The remains were exhumed from the graves and relocated to a new cemetery to ensure that they would not be disturbed during mining processes.
But angry families claim they have been waiting for more than 10 years for the mine authorities to show them graves of their beloved family members.
One heartbroken resident, who asked not to be named, said authorities took them to the grave site on Wednesday with the intention of showing them where their parents and family members were reburied.
‘The exercise became a fiasco, however, as the authorities failed to provide us with proper answers. Only seven graves were exhumed for relocation to the new cemetery, but we were shown eight. They could not explain who the eighth person was.
‘They messed everything up and this will anger the dead. Our ancestors will punish us for this negligence. That is why we demand compensation so that we can undertake rituals to appease our late parents and family members,’ he said.
Another irate resident claimed that when he demanded to be shown the graves of his father and his late children, they were not able to do so.
‘They have mixed up all the graves. We cannot even erect tombstones for our late relatives because the mine can’t positively identify the correct graves.’
He agreed the only solution to remedy the situation would be to get compensation so that the spirits of the deceased could be placated.
Thendele Mine Business Development Manager, Nkosinathi Kunene, said what the residents are complaining about is premature, because the programme has not been finalised. We call families in groups so that we can have sufficient time to attend to each and every family.
‘This programme started last Wednesday and will be finalised on Tuesday. After finalisation we will have meetings with a committee representing all the affected families, and it is where we will digest everything and pave the way forward.
‘It is problematic to entertain the compensation request at this stage. The next generation might also later demand compensation for the same graves.
‘My suggestion is that everybody wait for the programme to be finalised before we resolve the issue,’ Kunene said.
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