Vandalism spurs South African cemetery appeal

SOUTH African Jews living in Australia are being urged to help raise funds to protect a historic Jewish cemetery near Johannesburg after it was desecrated by vandals late last month.

More than 30 graves were damaged at the Krugersdorp cemetery on the night of Sunday October 27.

Many expats have family members interred at the site. Sharon Krawitz’s father is among those buried there. She told The AJN she felt “very emotional and devastated” on hearing about the destruction.

Krugersdorp once had a thriving community with more than 1000 members. Today the numbers have dwindled to around 80, but it still boasts an active shul and a rabbi.

Local resident Ryan Machet said that over the years the community has done its utmost to maintain the cemetery, but now with such low numbers, it is becoming more difficult.

Within the last year, the entire fence around the site has been stolen for its scrap metal value, leaving the graves exposed. “As you can imagine, the community is shocked by this senseless act,” Machet told The AJN.

Krugersdorp Rabbi Daniel Dworcan condemned the incident as a “cowardly and despicable act of wanton destruction”.

Machet has been leading an appeal to build a wall around the graveyard for several months, and has prepared a letter which is being distributed to current and ex-Krugersdorp Jews. The project is seeking to raise 350,000 South African rand (approximately $36,240).

Machet said this is the only way to secure the final resting place of nearly a thousand Jews whose loved ones have since left the town and country.

“I feel it is a very important undertaking, as once the community is gone, the cemetery will be all that remains, and without some form of physical barrier it will be subjected to vandalism and damage on a continuous basis,” he said.

For details on contributing to the appeal, email legacy@uhik.co.za.

PHOEBE ROTH