A concerned resident has been unable to access her family members’ gravesite at the Bainsvlei Cemetery for some time due to the overgrown grass and safety concerns.
After she contacted Bloemfontein Courant, an appointment was arranged to accompany her to the cemetery on 27 February. Initially, she was overwhelmed with gratitude, hoping the grass had been mowed recently.
On arrival, however, disappointment set in, as the grave was completely hidden in the overgrowth. “This is so much worse than the last time,” she said, struggling to hold back tears. Her last visit was in December 2025. “I pay a private person monthly to keep the joint grave of my husband, son and daughter clean. During my visit before Christmas, it was impossible to access the grave. The grass and bushes were waist-high. Graves have collapsed and are not visible among the overgrowth.”
Her biggest fear, she added, is being buried there herself, especially after serving in public health for many years. “Can an effort not be made to hold accountable the people responsible for maintenance, who receive a monthly salary for their duties? It is sad to experience this. You are therefore unable to visit your loved one’s grave in a clean and dignified environment.”
On a separate occasion, another concerned family member from Meyerton travelled to Bainsvlei to visit her parents’ gravesites but was also unable to access them due to the poor conditions.
Bloemfontein Courant has extensively reported on the state of local cemeteries and the neglect of the cremation wall in the city. The municipality has repeatedly stated it is aware of the conditions and is working to uphold community dignity. “The municipality recognises and deeply regrets the distress caused to families who feel unsafe visiting gravesites. We reaffirm our commitment to restoring dignity, safety, and respect to these spaces,” said Dr Thabang Thinda, head of the department of community services, during a previous inquiry about the Memoriam Graveyard in Generaal De Wet.
In response to the Bainsvlei enquiry, Nicolette Maysiels, acting communications general manager, said the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality’s department of city parks and cemeteries completed maintenance on a section of the Bainsvlei Cemetery on 2 February 2026. The remaining sections were scheduled to be completed on 27 February. This work forms part of the city’s Letsema programme, an ongoing initiative to clean and maintain city entrances, open spaces, and cemeteries.
The programme is currently being implemented under the theme “Clean the Heart of Mangaung,” which aims to create a cleaner, healthier, and more dignified environment for residents. Maysiels also noted a general budget has been allocated for cemetery maintenance, but not specifically for Bainsvlei.
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