TRACKING DEVICE FOR STOLEN TOMBSTONES TO HIT ESWATINI

MBABANE – Amid growing concerns over theft of tombstones in cemeteries, a local businessman wants to put a stop to this criminal act.

This technology will come as a relief for emaSwati who are worried about rising cases of gravestone robberies. In South Africa, the Global Positioning System (GPS) transmitting system is called Memorial Alert. It includes a transmitter that is placed inside the headstone. It can detect anyone tampering with the gravestone, setting off an internal sensor. In case a person attempts to steal the tombstone, the sensor will send a text message to relatives and an alarm will sound to deter the attempted theft.A syndicate, believed to be from South Africa and some emaSwati, is said to be behind the growing cases of tombstone theft in the kingdom.

Investigations by Eswatini News revealed that at least five tombstones have been stolen by this alleged syndicate, straight from the graves, at different cemeteries since the start of this year. Three of the tombstones were reportedly stolen from St Joseph’s Cemetery, while another one disappeared from Mangwaneni Cemetery, in Mbabane. This publication recently reported a court case where two men were arrested and charged with allegedly stealing a tombstone valued at E42 500, from a grave at Ezulwini Cemetery, next to Buka. It has further been established that the fence protecting the graves at St Joseph’s Cemetery was also recently stolen by unknown people.

Targeting

The alleged syndicate is said to be targeting expensive tombstones in urban cemeteries, which they allegedly sell in South Africa, where tombstone theft is said to be rife and a great deal for concern.Vusi Shongwe, the owner of 22-year-old A to Zee Tombstone company, based at Ngculwini in the Manzini Region, confirmed the planned launch of the tombstones with tracking system in the country.The well-known businessman, understood in some quarters to be the brain behind tombstone manufacturing in the country, told Eswatini News that gravestones with trackers would soon be introduced to the local market.

He pointed to the fact that they would, however, not come cheap. He said he had received concerns by some of his clients about the reports that tombstones were being stolen from the graves. He said such reports created a bad image for the gravestone industry. Shongwe said he had since taken upon himself to protect the integrity of his business by introducing the trackers.

“After a story was run in the newspapers about two men who allegedly stole an expensive tombstone in Ezulwini, I received calls from some of my clients, who were understandably concerned about these developments. Fortunately, I recently went overseas to do research on tombstones with tracking system and the feedback I got was very positive,” he said.
At the moment, Shongwe said he was making arrangements to officially launch the tombstones with tracking system. He said this technology would definitely provide the immediate solution.

“Preparations for the launch ceremony are at advanced stages and the public will be notified once all the necessary details have been finalised,” he said. The soft-spoken businessman conceded that the reports about theft of tombstones in the country were giving him sleepless nights. “I started this tombstone business in 2002 and was the first person to do it in Eswatini,” he said. He said his company also operated as wholesale business entity, selling tombstones to a number of funeral parlours in the country. Shongwe mentioned that his business has a big clientele and it has earned trust among emaSwati.

Undermining

“So, to read reports that some people are undermining our businesses for their own selfish interests is not something we can take for granted,” the businessman said.He also confirmed that tombstones with trackers were now being sold in South Africa, following the high cases of theft. He said the prizes were largely dependent on the type of stone used to make the tombstone. “Expensive tombstones range between E20 000 to over E100 000, because they come with different brands.The more precious the stone used to make the tombstone is, the higher the prize,” Shongwe said.

Some of the known tombstone brands include Hazy Cap International, Swaziland Granite and Marble, Verde Fountain, Namibia Pearl, Stargate, African Red, Black Pearl, Rustenberg and Baltic Brown, among others. “The tombstones with tracking system are made in such a way that the owners are alerted when someone is interfering with the grave,” he explained.
He said a number of South Africans were already preferring the tombstones with trackers, because theft of these glittering stones was very rife in the Republic of South Africa.

“People are making big business stealing expensive tombstones, which is unfair to our clients, who spend lots of money buying them,” he said. Shongwe made it clear that his business was operating with integrity, stating that they have provided services to high-profile people in the country. “My business made the tombstone for the late NATCOM (National Commissioner of Police) Tsitsibala and he is not the only one,” he disclosed.

Hopeful

“I am hopeful that once we start selling the tombstones with tracking system, it will mitigate the theft reports like we see in South Africa now.” For now, Shongwe advised emaSwati to always make it a habit to check the graves of their loved ones, to ensure the tombstones were still intact. “The problem with some of our people, especially in the rural areas, is that once they bury their loved ones, they do not bother to check the graves,” he said. “It then becomes  easy for thieves to prey on those tombstones, because they are not guarded by anyone.”
He also noted with concern, that some cemeteries in the country had no proper security for the graves.“Most of our cemeteries are easily accessible and this is not helping in the fight against tombstone theft. My advice is that those who are responsible for the provision of security at the cemeteries, should assist in reducing the theft of the tombstones,” he pleaded.

Remove

Shongwe said thieves were able to remove the engraved tombstones without a problem and then sell it as new to their customers. “EmaSwati are unknowingly buying tombstones that were engraved with other people’s names, which is against our identity as emaSwati and disrespectful to the deceased,” Shongwe mentioned. He added: “our culture as emaSwati demands that we respect graves, but clearly, some people are losing that. How do you even find the courage to invade a grave belonging to a person you do not know and steal the tombstone? This should not be condoned.”

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