Community says cemetery has been used daily for indecent acts since January
VERULAM — Residents in Verulam’s Central Business District have raised alarm after what they describe as repeated indecent behaviour at the municipal cemetery on Wick Street. Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) said it has received a number of complaints about men allegedly performing sexual acts on graves while watching pornographic videos, with the incidents said to have been taking place since January 2026.
According to RUSA, residents reported that the audio from these videos could be heard by children living in nearby apartment blocks. The organisation said private security and a cleaning company, Project 360, contacted RUSA headquarters on Monday after receiving multiple complaints from tenants of a nearby block of flats.
“Residents allege that different men regularly visit the Wick Street Local Cemetery during the day and evening, where they allegedly masturbate while standing on or lying on graves and tombstones while watching pornographic videos.”
Residents told RUSA they have tried to intervene. Municipal workers and members of the public reportedly attempted to chase those involved away, but RUSA said the individuals return and continue their actions, sometimes in full view of passers-by.
Who has responded and what action is being taken?
RUSA said it will carry out regular aerial patrols with a drone pilot over the cemetery and will dispatch reaction officers when necessary. Project 360, the local security and cleaning company, alerted RUSA after receiving repeated complaints.
The report states that as many as four different men have been observed engaging in these acts on an almost daily basis and that the alleged perpetrators are of different demographic backgrounds. RUSA did not provide names or further identifying information.
There has been no formal statement in the source material from the eThekwini Municipality, the local parks and cemeteries office, or the police. Residents and RUSA have called for more active intervention to protect the dignity of the site and the safety of nearby families.
Impact on the community
For neighbours of the Wick Street cemetery, the issue is both a moral concern and a public-safety problem. The presence of children in surrounding residential complexes — combined with reports that explicit audio can be heard in homes — has heightened concern among parents and building managers.
Local cemeteries are typically spaces for mourning and remembrance. When they become locations for criminal or indecent behaviour, families who visit graves or who live nearby can feel violated and unsafe. The continual return of the alleged offenders despite interventions by municipal staff and members of the public has left residents frustrated.
- Reported timeline: Incidents occurring since January 2026, according to RUSA.
- Frequency: Described as almost daily in complaints received by RUSA and local security.
- Reported perpetrators: Up to four different men, of varied backgrounds, observed at different times of day.
| Issue | Reported detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Wick Street Local Cemetery, Verulam CBD |
| Start of incidents | Since January 2026 |
| Number of alleged perpetrators | As many as four different men |
| Reported measures | RUSA aerial patrols; reaction officers to be dispatched; local security involvement |
What residents can do and where to report
Community members concerned about indecent or criminal activity in public spaces should report incidents promptly to the South African Police Service (SAPS) at their local station so a case can be opened and formally investigated. In addition, the municipality’s parks or cemeteries department should be notified about repeat disturbances at municipal property.
Neighbourhood watch groups, private security providers and community forums can also assist by documenting times and descriptions of incidents, which can help the police and municipal officials build a case. RUSA’s involvement shows how non-profit reaction services sometimes support community safety, but they do not replace formal police action.
Residents said they want clearer action from authorities to preserve the dignity of the cemetery and to ensure children living nearby are not exposed to explicit content. The next steps will depend on whether the SAPS or eThekwini Municipality deploy additional patrols, improve lighting and surveillance, or take steps to restrict access to the cemetery outside visiting hours.
For now, families and nearby tenants remain watchful. RUSA’s planned drone patrols and the involvement of Project 360 highlight the community’s resolve to end the behaviour, but formal law-enforcement follow-up will be crucial to preventing repeat incidents.
Residents who witnessed incidents or who have footage or images that could assist investigators were urged by RUSA to provide those to the police and to community safety organisations.
