RSSC OFFER: MONUMENT, 1 GRAVE FOR HUNDREDS OF BODIES
MAFUCULA – The Royal Swaziland Sugar Corporation (RSSC) has taken full responsibility for the destruction of hundreds of graves by a TLB that had been commissioned by the company to clear a piece of land.
As such, the giant sugar manufacturing company has offered to build a monument that will be engraved with names of all the deceased persons whose graves were destroyed. On top of that, the company has proposed a mass burial, in a single large grave, for all the bodies whose graves were destroyed. The proposed plan by RSSC entails that the mass burial would take place at the site, where the graves were destroyed, with the monument constructed on top of the large grave, where all the bodies would be buried.
Compensate
Seen as efforts to compensate the affected families, RSSC has pledged to bear the costs for both the construction of the monument and the relocation of the various graves into a single large tomb. This proposed plan was presented by representatives of RSSC management in a meeting with Mafucula traditional authorities on Wednesday. On Saturday, during a mass meeting held at the umphakatsi, representatives of RSSC management reaffirmed the company’s commitment to implement the above mentioned plans. “During the day of the relocation of the graves, there will be a ceremony whereby the affected families can perform rituals or any other solemn ceremony. There will be large tents and the company will also provide traditional brew and further slaughter cattle,” said Mandla Chauke, RSSC Agriculture Services Manager.
He said after the ceremony, a monument would be erected so that the affected families can visit the place anytime to pay their respects to their deceased loved ones or to perform rituals.
Chauke pronounced that after the erection of the monument, the company would fence off the area from its other operations. However, in their submissions, many residents were critical of the proposed plan by RSSC. Some used the opportunity to criticise the company for having encroached into the graveyard and destroyed the graves. “I usually perform the kuphahla ritual and it has been very helpful to me. However, now that my mother’s grave has been destroyed, where will I perform this ritual?” wondered one of the residents.
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