Residents of the Syview area, located south of Durban, continue to hope for a solution to the problem of restoring the burial sites of their loved ones at Syview Cemetery. More than a quarter of a century ago, this cemetery was occupied by informal residents.
Unsanctioned dwellings were built directly on the graves, which violated the sanctity of the place, originally named Vishnu Syview Cemetery. It was founded by Indian businessmen who settled in the area. These people formed the Syview Cemetery and District Trust for Hindus and, in the late 1930s, appealed to the city council to allow them to use the land as a burial ground.
Last July, POST reported that Siboniso Duma, Minister of Transport and Human Settlements in eThekwini Municipality, stated that the department is working on profiling informal residents for resettlement. At the time, Duma noted: 'Our hearts are with the families of the deceased souls who should rest in peace at the cemetery. We remember that residents were forcibly evicted from the area as a result of the Group Areas Act. Under democratic government, they must be allowed to reconnect with their loved ones.'
However, families whose relatives were buried at the cemetery have reported no progress. Alan 'Choy' Naiker, whose grandmother was buried at the cemetery in the 1950s, said that although his family was evicted due to the Group Areas Act, they continued to visit the cemetery. He noted that despite the frequent growth of grass, his family managed to find his grandfather's grave near the cemetery entrance.
After the construction of informal homes, Naiker stated that he no longer feels safe visiting the cemetery. He added: 'While it is sad to see people in such conditions, it is terrible that they trample on the graves of our loved ones. Nevertheless, I hope they will be relocated soon so we can visit the cemetery again.'
Informal structures have been built next to or directly on the graves at Syview Cemetery. Lalantra Dass, 65, reported that her grandparents and other family members were buried there. She shared that during her last visit about five years ago, it was painful and disappointing to see the cemetery in such a state, with people living on the graves. Dass expressed hope for the restoration and maintenance of the cemetery for the dignity of the deceased, also noting the destruction of headstones.
Khalil Qazi, a resident and community activist, reported that the 'invasion' occurred more than 25 years ago, and around 400 informal residents might have lived there. He emphasized that the problem is not only about poor living conditions but also about security threats. He also mentioned that recently, about 40 dwellings were destroyed after a fire, but no one died.
Qazi added that while the Charter of Rights stipulates the right of people to housing, it does not provide for the construction of these homes on graves. In turn, Ndabenzingle Sibiya, a representative of the Department of Transport and Human Settlements in eThekwini Municipality, told POST this week that consultations are underway between the three levels of government as part of planning, identifying suitable land, and allocating resources.