Cape Town has been battered by a classic Cape winter storm this week, with mop-up operations still under way.
The wet weather conditions are set to last into the weekend, putting Disaster Risk Management teams on high alert.
One of the lesser publicised consequences of inclement weather affects the city’s cemeteries.
On Thursday the City of Cape Town’s Recreation and Parks Department warned that ongoing rainfall and waterlogged conditions could disrupt regular cemetery operations.
In short – soggy ground makes burials more complicated.
“Experience has shown that consistent rainfall and/or periods of heavy downpours cause the water table level to rise,” the City statement read.
“This has the potential to impact operations, like digging graves, or reopening family graves for second burials.”
Shallow graves
While the Recreation & Parks Department has winter contingency plans in place to maximise burial space and promote drainage, saturated water tables or flooding still pose a problem.
“We ask undertakers and families planning burials to please be mindful that these conditions might require shallower graves or alternative burial sites,” added Mayco Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Francine Higham.
“We also urge undertakers and officiants to try and expedite burials, so that traffic can be managed more effectively in and out of the cemeteries and to also limit people’s exposure to conditions underfoot.”
Cemeteries in the Rain: What the City wants you to know
- Cemetery staff might need to prepare shallower graves, depending on water table levels at a particular cemetery. This will limit the opportunity to bury a second coffin in the same private grave.
- The City also reserves the right to advise against requests for the reopening of a family grave. This is especially true for parts of the cemetery that are heavily waterlogged. The City may recommend an alternate grave or an alternate cemetery.
- Parking, roads and pathways might be unusually flooded, or slippery, and the public is advised to exercise extreme caution.
- Wear suitable weatherproof clothing and waterproof non-slip shoes to avoid slipping and puddles.
- Arrive timeously at the burial and do not exceed the 30-minute timeslot so as to alleviate parking congestion.
- Consider a smaller number of people attending burials, particularly during episodes of inclement weather.
- Exercise caution when carrying coffins and avoid standing too close to open graves.
- Consider weekday burials to reduce overcrowding in cemeteries on weekends.
- Undertakers should exercise caution with gazebos which are prone to injuring mourners if swept away in the wind.
- The City also reminds undertakers to abide by the specifications for gazebos as outlined in the Cemetery by-law, and to refrain from the use of stretch tents and marquees.
Have you been affected by the rain in Cape Town this week?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
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