The Itekeng Bacha project, which is composed of seventeen members from Comet, at Qwaqwa in the Free State, deemed it necessary to form a group that will clean graveyards. This project was established in June 2023 by fifteen women and two men.

According to the project leader Palesa Tsotetsi, the abuse of drugs and alcohol is a serious concern in their ward. Teenage pregnancy is another factor that keeps destroying the future of young people who stay in Comet.

‘We are expecting a bright future for our children”

“We’ve realised that if we work together as a group, we will fight all these elements that destroy the future of our children. We are expecting a bright future for our children but most of them end up being the victims of drugs and alcohol,” said Tsotetsi.

She adds that due to dirtiness at the graveyards, most of the families are ultimately unable to identify the graves of their loved ones. Hence members of the project decided to pull up their sleeves and clean around the graves.

She further requested that business people donate raw materials such as rakes, spades, picks, wheelbarrows, raincoats, hand cloves and other equipment so that the work runs smoothly.

‘Their project aims to own a cleaning company’

Wrapping up, Tsotetsi said they have been asking for assistance from the ward councillor without success. None of the government officials wanted to help them complete their goals.

She pointed out that their project aims to own a cleaning company that will assist with graveyard matters in any way since the livestock also cause serious damage.

OFM News/Tumelo Khotha cg