A SOWETO family has raised concern about poor security at Lenasia Cemetery after the suspected theft of a headstone at the graveyard

Thoko Ntombela was devastated on Easter Monday when she discovered that the headstone of her late husband's grave was missing.

Esau Ntombela's tombstone was unveiled in August 2008 and the last time the family visited the site in November last year, everything was in order.

"We did this tombstone out of love. We really wanted to honour him, so to see the grave like this is painful," Ntombela said.

The pensioner, who spent R12000 on the tombstone, said she would love to save up and erect another headstone but was worried that there was no guarantee that it would not be stolen again.

"I'm disheartened to hear police say many cases are reported but they don't seem to be curbing this crime," Ntombela said.

Alan Buff, strategic adviser for Johannesburg City Parks, which is the custodians of cemeteries, said: "City Parks has put fencing around most of its cemeteries as well as security at the gates coupled with patrols by private security, Metro Police, SAPS and park rangers.

"The cemetery by-laws are explicit in that the onus of the installation, maintenance, insurance and protection of memorials are the responsibility of the family."

But a Sowetan team visited Lenasia and Roodepoort cemeteries and were not stopped by security. On leaving there was also no search or enquiry from the security personnel.

There was no patrols by Metro Police, SAPS and park rangers.

Instead, there were people who were not employed by City Parks who roamed the area with spades asking to help people by cleaning their loved one's graves for a small fee.

Kliptown police spokesperson Captain Nondumiso Mpantsha said she was restricted from giving statistics on tombstones theft. She did confirm that the crime was rife but said it had subsided this year.

Provincial police spokesperson Katlego Mohale said tombstone theft was not a priority crime for the police.

Nkuru Legwale of Granite Style factory shop said in the last four years about 25 of his clients had had their tombstones stolen.

"It hurts business because people are no longer willing to invest in the expensive stones. Some end up suspecting us," Legwale said.

"I always tell people they should know where the tombstones are made and should see for themselves when it gets engraved."

He said the most problematic areas were Dobsonville in Soweto, Eldorado Park, Roodepoort, Doornkop and Lenasia cemeteries.

"Avalon now has very tight security."

Legwale showed Sowetan how to spot a headstone where engraving was filed off and new writing engraved.

"The polishing is not so good and the stone is not very smooth."