Bloemfontein Cemetery Vandalism Shocks Residents: "Some People Don’t Respect the Deceased

• A Bloemfontein cemetery was filmed in a heartbreaking state, with missing tombstones and damaged graves
• The video sparked a wave of outrage, as viewers called for municipal intervention and community involvement
• The clip reignited debates about how crime and neglect impact spaces meant to preserve family legacies

South Africans were heartbroken after a viral video exposed the neglect and theft plaguing a Bloemfontein cemetery.

A TikTok video by user @newsnexussa has shocked South Africans after revealing disturbing vandalism at a Bloemfontein cemetery. The clip shows a woman walking through the burial site, pointing out graves with missing or overturned tombstones. Some areas appear stripped of their markers entirely, leaving once‑peaceful resting places almost unrecognisable. Her emotional voice urges the public to visit the graves of their loved ones and check if they are still intact.

The video, posted on 4 August 2025, hints at a troubling pattern. She claims that local drug users have stolen many tombstones, likely to be sold as raw materials for quick cash. The destruction has left the cemetery in a heartbreaking state, with family legacies erased by the removal of headstones.

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Viral clip sparks anger and calls for stronger community action

For many viewers, the footage was a painful reminder of the vulnerability of public spaces often neglected or under‑secured by municipalities. The viral clip quickly sparked anger online. Social media users expressed both sadness and frustration, demanding that the city improve its cemetery security and investigate the thefts.

Some suggested that communities themselves might need to step in, either through regular visits or patrols, to protect these sacred spaces. The situation has also reignited conversations about the ripple effects of local crime and substance abuse on cultural and family traditions.

Mzansi reacted to the video

Werner said:

"My grandparents are buried at South Park cemetery in Bloemfontein. We haven't visited in more than 15 years because it's too dangerous there."

MemyselfandI commented:

"Clear indication that dead people are dead, they know nothing. Otherwise, they could have defended themselves. Do all you can for people when they're alive."

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Tshepi the Attorney asked:

"What? Ba tsuba masapo? 😭"

Risinga Stanford said:

"Most people are using that for kitchen units."

Sello Malema said:

"So badimo ba palla Ke go itwela ebile ba tsubiwa...🤔 Who should fight for whom? Rea ba lwela or ba re lwela? 🤔"

BumbleBee said:

"I don’t understand. Can someone translate?"

Itachi Uchiha asked:

"What do they do with those slabs?"

Malose Mahwibila asked:

"‘Le tle Le tleng’ - what language is this?"

Lisar Dlamini commented:

"Tombstone businesses are responsible for that. They sandblast them and resell them to new clients."

Check out the TikTok video below:

3 Briefly News stories about graves

• One of South Africa’s biggest influencers trended online after attending her ex-boyfriend’s funeral, sparking discussions about visiting the grave.
• A video generated intense discussion after showing a woman performing the popular "Cash Kontant" dance challenge on someone's grave.
• A young woman shared heartbreaking footage of herself being carried into her twin sister's grave as part of traditional African burial customs.

Source: Briefly News