The Louis Trichardt cemetery will have grave markers within two weeks.

The condition of the local graveyard is a highly emotional matter and it seems that the standard of neatness that the community desires is not clearly understood by the local authorities.

Early this year, concerned citizens gathered with municipal officials at the cemetery. One of the numerous problems that were mentioned was the absence of grave markers.

On November 20, the Makhado Municipality, through official spokesperson Mr Louis Bobodi, stated that "the grave markers are being prepared and will be put on graves within two weeks."

At the meeting in February, Mr Jan Brink, AVBOB funeral undertaker, raised the matter of the fence that was in a dilapidated condition. The promise was given that the fence would be fixed. An enquiry as to when the promise to repair the fence would be honoured was answered this week. The MIG (municipal infrastructure grant) funding has been allocated to refurbish the graveyard.

"A consultant has been appointed to produce designs and they will complete the designs by next week. This project will be implemented this financial year, that is 2007/2008," Bobodi said.

Two Weedeaters were donated for use at the cemetery by Mr Jan Brink and Ms Francis de Bruin of Limpopo Diaries. Two weeks ago, concerned resident Mr Cobus Holtzkampf raised the question whether the weed eaters were utilised at all. He was concerned after he visited the overgrown graveyard with his aged dad. The statement of the municipality read that the two Weedeaters were being utilised "as and when the need arises, but they are used regularly."

A former resident of Louis Trichardt, Kobie Louw, visited the cemetery on November 1 to bury a loved one. Louw expressed utter shock and dismay at the state of the cemetery, where all the aged relatives had to stumble across uneven ground, rocks, weeds and uncut grass. The municipality explained that, due to the heavy rains, "there are a lot of bushes around the municipal area, and as such the teams are working in other areas. As we speak, bushes have been removed and cut at the graveyard."

It does still seem that the community has a higher expectation of what a neat cemetery entails than the local government that is paid to keep the cemetery neat. Outsourcing is an option that is seen as a solution by many. On the issue of outsourcing, the answer was, "We will have to revisit the issue". At the February meeting, De Bruin strongly recommended outsourcing the upkeep of the cemetery.

"The contractor should keep the graveyard, as well as the parking area, neat and clean. My mother, Ms Sannie Fourie, would be willing to undertake a contract to look after the cemetery," De Bruin said. The Fouries have a keen interest in the cemetery, since they have loved ones buried there. The same idea was mentioned a week ago by Mr Roelf Venter, who said that his dad goes there regularly to clean around the graves of their loved ones. Venter also mentioned the importance of a dedicated, well-disciplined caretaker. When the municipality was approached on the matter of having a caretaker that can deliver the goods, the answer was: "We are giving it serious consideration."

Bobodi stated that the small historical cemetery in the Tree Park is receiving attention.

"Within two weeks, the maintenance teams will be moving to that area," Bobodi said.