Resident Aids | Pietermaritzburg South Africa | Worst Affected HIV Crisis Pictures

The South African town of Pietermaritzburg is at the epicentre one of the world's worst HIV crises. The town's Mountain Rise Cemetery is the final resting place for many of those affected.


Pietermaritzburg is one of the areas worst hit by HIV/Aids in one of the world's worst affected countries. More than five million South Africans are HIV-positive - 20% of the population.


In Pietermaritzburg, the HIV infection rate is about 40% of the adult population.


At the Mountain Rise Cemetery, there are as many as 10 funerals in a day.


There are more than 30 undertakers working in the city, but because of a lack of medical records no-one may ever know the exact number of dead.


So great is the number of mourners that vendors gather at the cemetery to sell refreshments including ice cream.


Oil and clumps of grass are placed over the coffins, with a number placed at the foot of the grave and a cross carrying the name, age and date of the deceased.


Gardeners employed by the council cut back the grass that has grown over many of the graves.