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Western Cape Provincial Parliament Member, Mr Rodney Lentit is hopeful that recent exploratory talks between City Parks and Sport and Recreation Amenities will result in a much needed cemetery in Mitchell’s Plain.

‘Mitchell’s Plain is the largest residential area in the Western Cape. It is also home to a number of poor families living beneath the breadline who often cannot afford the cost of burial and funeral transport arrangements for loved ones,’ says Mr Lentit.

‘The lack of a graveyard in the area means that residents have to travel to Eerste River, Grassy Park and even Maitland to lay loved ones to rest – 21,9km out of Mitchell’s Plain,’ stresses Mr Lentit.

After having been approached by residents and religious leaders from the area about the lack of a burial site, Mr Lentit submitted a Parliamentary question to the Minister of Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Mr Anton Bredell (copied one below).

‘Many of us have family members, relatives or close friends in Mitchell’s Plain that will welcome the results of exploratory talks between City Parks, Sports and Recreation Amenities and the Provincial Department of Local Government Environmental Affairs & Development Planning for the possible use and conversion of surplus sports fields, either Swartklip Sports Field or the Lentegeur Sports Field, for a burial site.

‘It will not only relieve some of the financial strain of funerals for the feeding community, but may also address the shortage of burial space and work around problems at other City cemeteries posed by the high water table in those areas, especially the Maitland cemetery,’ Mr Lentit says.