The theft of a ‘katel’ — a ceremonial stretcher used during Muslim funeral rites — from Mowbray Cemetery has not been an isolated incident but follows other break-ins and thefts.

On Friday, Chairman of the Muslim Cemetery Board and Secretary of the Burial Administration of the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) Faizal Sayed posted footage of the incident where a man came through the roof to steal the katel. 

Sayed said that he posted the footage in hopes of tracing the person.

“The person cut a hole in the ceiling in the courtyard, came through the ceiling, and took many hours to actually slowly lift the thing up, and get it through the ceiling.”

Sayed explained that the cemetery has experienced a slight increase in such incidents in the last month and a half, and that not all of them have involved a katel. 

“The katel is an expensive metal piece, so it was clearly stolen for that purpose. In effect, it has upset the Muslim community a lot because it is something that people see their loved ones off for the last time. 

“There’s a lot of sentimental value to these things, and the community feels it is a disregard and disrespect to take something of that nature,” Sayed said. 

Sayed said they have also noticed how the increased thefts are related to metal.

“The first incident was where they ripped the complete window and window frames off the prayer facility, and they reached their hands in to get a specialised clock.”

The clock is a special electronic device typically only found in mosques, which explains when the daily prayer times are, which change every day.

“The other theft included the theft of the outside air conditioning unit, which is very important because it is attached to a building where bodies are prepared for burial. 

“The facility requires proper air conditioning, so if people steal those units, which cost thousands of rands, then it impedes the operations of the cemetery.

Sayed said these incidents speak to a broader systemic issue of thefts at cemeteries, which are “currently experiencing an increase in this type of activity where people are taking tombstones and metal items around graves”.

“We need to talk to the systemic values that people are missing within themselves, if you are going so far as desecrating the spaces of the deceived. There is a sanctity involved in all of that which we feel is being disrespected.”

Sayed added that they’ve continuously increased gates and upgraded security systems, but that it seems like every time they upgrade, so do the thieves.

The City of Cape Town, which manages 42 cemeteries, have shared that they experience similar challenges. 

On Monday, the City’s Recreation and Parks Department said that security guards are stationed at most cemeteries, but because cemeteries are classified as open spaces and must remain accessible to the public, “the size of these facilities makes it challenging and cost-prohibitive to provide full-time on-site security coverage across all areas”.

“Vandalism and theft are a major challenge affecting many communities throughout the city. When it occurs in community facilities, it attracts anti-social behaviour.

“At cemeteries in particular, incidents like vandalised tombstones, the theft of fencing, flowers and memorial work are common.

“Community involvement has shown itself as one of the top-most contributors to protecting recreational facilities as valuable community assets. Where there is no community involvement, vandalism is at a maximum,” the City said.

The City also called on residents to put forward any ideas on how to effect a change in behaviour from within the community, or volunteer to get involved in expanding the reach of City and SAPS resources at recreation and parks facilities by forming groups such as Neighbourhood Watches.

theolin.tembo@inl.co.za

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