If you’re going to die in Karoo, give 30 days advance notice

Cape Town : South Africa | May 13, 2011 at 1:18 PM PDT

By nicanorr

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Securing a grave in Karoo town in Wolwefontein, Eastern Cape, South Africa is quite a problem, so if you plan to die there- as reported in the May 11, 2011 Dispatch Online- you have to give at least 30-day notice to concerned authorities to allow them enough time to give you a decent grave.

Boring through a hard stone layer to make a grave into the ground takes about a month.

Take the case of Zenzile Alwin Ngqeza, 86. who died unprepared. They found no available grave for him and none could be dug so quickly. So it was decided that he be laid to rest in the prepared waiting-grave of Gertie Petersen, 101. which grave lay beside her dead husband, Hendrik.

Meantime, Granny Gertie believes the grave is still hers.

She said smiling that she’s going to lie with Hendrik.

But it was decided that the change be kept secret from the old woman and that the municipality’s jackhammers be made to function at the soonest time possible for a replacement grave for Gertie Petersen.

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Courtesy Grave digger talks - RPTV 5

nicanorr is based in Catbalogan, Eastern Visayas, Philippines, and is an Anchor for Allvoices.

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Post a Comment Comments: 5

Posted By

nicanorr | about 2 years ago

With malice towards none and if the residents so decide, they can elect cremation or burning of their dead as a choice.

Posted By

dunite | about 2 years ago

...or they could chose a respectful rite the Vikings practiced hundreds of years ago, burn the body while floating at sea :)thanks nicanorr!

Reply By

nicanorr | about 2 years ago

If I remember right, that kind of Viking burial is termed FUNERAL PYRE where the corpse is laid in flammable materials which is set in a floating ship followed by flaming arrows.

Posted By

aymaan30 | about 2 years ago

Interesting...the struggle for space does not seem to end even after one is dead..rated up...

Reply By

nicanorr | about 2 years ago

...and competition- positively speaking- is one of the keys to progress.

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Submitted By: nicanorr | 2 years ago

Give 30 days’ notice before you die in Karoo town|Lastest My Baby News] Give 30 days’ notice before you die in Karoo town IN WOLWEFONTEIN – a languishing Eastern Cape Karoo railway village – it’s advisable to give a ...

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Problem of securing a grave

Problem of securing a grave

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Making a grave in Karoo town is a big problem. It takes almost a month ...