One of the key responsibilities of the Cape SAJBD is to ensure the well-being of all our constituents in the Western Cape. With a total area of almost 130 000 km², we have a rather large commitment to provide services to all Jews in our province. From Hermanus to Ladismith, Plettenberg Bay to Beaufort West, the Cape SAJBD is committed to assisting Jewish communities all over the Western Cape as well as safeguarding and preserving our Jewish history and heritage. These services are extended to cemetery maintenance and the various Jewish museums and deconsecrated shuls around our Province.
In late May 2022, the Robertson cemetery gates were stolen. There has been a spate of robberies in the area with metal and steel the preferred item stolen as these can be sold. Together with our partners in the area, we resolved to replace the steel gates with a wooden version which would be just as solid yet hopefully not as desirable to the thieves in the areas. Our attempts to replace the gates the first time were met with a challenge. We decided to use metal posts to secure the wooden gates – these posts however were stolen the day after they were laid – before we could attach the actual gates. After days of wet weather, the wooden gates have finally been installed and the Robertson cemetery is once again enclosed. The cemetery is cleaned each month however should you experience any challenges when visiting the cemetery, then please let us know via email.