Residents of Cradock, officially known as Inxuba, are expressing growing concern over a shortage of burial space as deteriorating municipal services continue to affect the town.
The Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality is among the 69 municipalities whose equitable share funding has been withheld by the National Treasury due to financial management concerns, a move that has placed additional strain on essential service delivery.
One of the most pressing challenges facing residents is the lack of available burial space, with families reporting that overcrowded cemeteries are making it increasingly difficult to lay loved ones to rest.
Some residents say the shortage has also made it harder to locate the graves of relatives, as existing burial sites become increasingly congested.
The situation has been compounded by poor maintenance at local cemeteries, with overgrown vegetation, damaged fencing and a lack of visible security contributing to the neglect of burial grounds.
Residents have raised concerns that the deteriorating condition of the cemeteries not only affects grieving families but also undermines the dignity of those laid to rest.
The cemetery crisis is the latest example of the challenges facing the financially troubled municipality, as residents continue to call for improved service delivery and urgent intervention to address the growing shortage of burial space.