Thieves deface gravestone
Brass ornaments have disappeared from an Empangeni gravestone
AN Empangeni family has been left dismayed after discovering that their family member’s gravestone has been defaced over the last two weeks.
The De Ponte family laid their beloved husband and father Marcelino ‘Johnny’ de Ponte to rest 16 years ago at the old Empangeni cemetery.
‘We visit every Saturday, but over the last two weeks we noticed brass ornaments had been disappearing from the gravestone,’ said Connie de Ponte.
‘This is the first time this has happened in all these years.’
Ward 23 Councilor Andre de Lange said that many such incidents have been reported over time.
‘Unfortunately people enter the cemetery and deface and destroy both gravestones and plaques from the wall of remembrance,’ said De Lange.
The cemetery grounds were once patrolled by guards, but owing to overtime costs involved, the municipality could no longer afford to keep them.
‘The municipality is now looking into hiring guards once again to patrol the grounds,’ said De Lange.
Pieces taken include brass letters from his name, numbers of his date of birth and death, as well as two brass roses and an ornament of Jesus on the cross.
The family is pleading for assistance from the community to find and return the stolen pieces.
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