Khumalo takes on Ekurhuleni over grave disputes

The Khumalos have served an undertaking notice to the City of Ekurhuleni regarding the graves that once belonged to the Khumalo farm. The farm, which stretched from present-day Duduza to Winnie Mandela, including the Mall of Tembisa, has been a point of contention. Khumalo claims that graves on the farm have not been properly accounted for during township planning.”The city must take liability for all costs related to the relocation of these graves. This includes verifying the graves, appointing an archaeologist or heritage surveyor, and surveying and barricading the sites,” said Vusimuzi Khumalo.The undertaking notice seeks to hold the City of Ekurhuleni responsible for verifying and relocating the graves found in properties recorded with graves during township planning. This includes the Duduza informal settlement. Khumalo sees this notice as a step towards justice after years of pursuing the matter.”The City of Ekurhuleni has acknowledged the receipt of the notice, but has not formally responded. This is a critical issue that needs to be addressed to preserve our heritage and respect our ancestors,” Khumalo added.Khumalo also brought the matter to the attention of the Public Protector’s national office in October 2023, seeking to protect his family’s ancestral graves and legacy.Despite some properties showing evidence of graves, confirming others remains a challenge. Some homes might need to be demolished for verification, a responsibility the city is hesitant to accept. Khumalo fears negligence and even corruption in town planning, questioning the lack of compliance reports for townships.”We initially aimed for compliance with SARHA, but the city couldn’t produce the necessary files from their archives,” Khumalo said, highlighting the challenges faced in resolving the issue.In 2018, Khumalo reached out to the City of Ekurhuleni Human Settlement’s legal corporate officials, Mr. Mdletshe and Mr. Manakga, seeking clarity on the location of ancestral graves. A subsequent report by SARHA disclosed three graves and remnants of farm structures. Khumalo’s investigations revealed that these graves remained untouched, despite plans for relocation during township development.The matter is currently being investigated by SAHRA, with documents supporting the case’s historical background and preparation by SAHRA. Khumalo continues to push for the protection and recognition of his family’s heritage amidst the challenges posed by urban development.