RESTORING DIGNITY, IMPROVING CEMETERIES AND STRENGTHENING SERVICE DELIVERY
Published: September 17, 2026<< BACK TO NEWS
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s commitment to restoring dignity to the dead, promoting healthy livelihoods and improving the appearance of public spaces is being demonstrated through the work of its Parks and Cemeteries Sub-Directorate.
The Cemeteries Sub-Directorate has welcomed 12 newly recruited employees, comprising 11 females and one male, to strengthen its operational capacity and contribute towards improved service delivery across municipal public open spaces and cemeteries.
The newly recruited employees will undertake a range of horticultural and maintenance activities, including:
- Weeding and maintenance of flower beds;
- General maintenance of municipal public open spaces;
- Tree maintenance and related horticultural activities;
- Vegetation control;
- Cemetery maintenance and upkeep; and
- Supporting general beautification and maintenance initiatives within public open spaces.
"As a caring government, we have given special focus to the areas where our people will feel safe, cared for and their dignity preserved. Capacitating the Parks and Cemeteries Sub-Directorate becomes critical for us in realising this mission. The investment in fleet and human resources will enhance the work.”
The improvement of cemetery conditions remains a key priority for the Parks and Cemeteries Sub-Directorate. Well-maintained cemeteries are essential to ensure that the deceased are treated with dignity and respect, while providing families and communities with safe, orderly and appropriate spaces for remembrance and mourning.
The Sub-Directorate is therefore prioritising the ongoing maintenance and upkeep of municipal cemeteries, including vegetation control, grass mowing, general cleaning and the improvement of the overall appearance and functionality of these facilities.
These interventions are aimed at ensuring that cemeteries are maintained to an acceptable standard and that the conditions of these important municipal spaces reflect the dignity of those who have passed away and the respect owed to their families.
MMC for Public Health Cllr Thsonono Buyeye said the maintenance of cemeteries and parks reflected the Municipality’s commitment to caring for its communities.
"As the MMC, I did give clear priorities to the officials. Cemeteries and Parks talk to our DNA as a caring Municipality. I am encouraged that we are making inroads.”
Fleet management has also been a key area of focus for the Sub-Directorate during the 2026/27 financial year. The Sub-Directorate has been working to improve the availability, suitability and management of its operational fleet to support teams responsible for maintaining cemeteries, parks and other municipal public open spaces.
An appropriate and adequately managed fleet is essential to ensuring that maintenance teams can reach service areas efficiently, transport the necessary equipment and respond to operational needs. Improved fleet capacity will contribute towards more effective maintenance programmes, improved response times and strengthened service delivery.
The combination of additional human resources and improved fleet management is expected to enhance the Sub-Directorate’s ability to maintain municipal facilities and respond to the needs of communities across Nelson Mandela Bay.
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