Seven South African communities oppose a cemetery with 33,800 graves
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on IOL
Seven communities in the La Mercy area oppose a proposed memorial park with 33,800 graves and a six-unit crematorium. The public participation meeting was interrupted after disputes over consultation, traffic, gas safety and emissions, IOL reports.
Seven communities in the La Mercy area of South Africa oppose a proposed memorial park comprising 33,800 graves and a six-unit crematorium, citing concerns over consultation, traffic, LPG safety, emissions and the impact on future investment, IOL reports. Residents of Desainagar, Seatides, La Mercy, Westbrook, Lungelani, Pholani and Thuthukani voiced their opposition at a public participation meeting.
The Coastal Joint Task Team (CJTT), a collective formed by residents to contest the project, criticised the handling of the file by Geoff Pullen, ward 58 councillor for the Democratic Alliance. The meeting, organised by environmental consultants NFZ Environmentals, was interrupted after delays and tensions. Anand Desai, a CJTT member, says the collective was created about three to four weeks earlier, after residents discovered the project and began examining its authorisation process, IOL reports.
The project is planned on former sugar cane land opposite King Shaka International Airport, on the other side of the N2. The crematorium is to be built in the second phase, currently at the draft environmental impact study stage, while residents say a first phase has already been approved, according to IOL.
Michael Singh, a CJTT member, said residents had questioned neighbouring informal communities and contacted their leaders to check whether the project was known locally. The CJTT says it wants to pursue legal action against the development, IOL reports.
