Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) has announced that Westpark Cemetery is expected to reach full capacity by May 2025.

The burial site, which has been operating since 1956, is now limiting burials to 15 interments per week as it manages the city’s burial space.

In a statement, JCPZ spokesperson Jenny Moodley said: “This marks an important moment in managing the city’s burial space, and City Parks is addressing it with great care and consideration for the immediate and long-term needs of our residents.

“JCPZ understands the deep emotional and cultural significance of burials for the families and communities we serve. We are committed to providing support for families during this difficult time and respecting cultural practices to allow for appropriate and respectful burial options.

“As urban populations grow and available cemetery space diminishes, we face significant challenges in maintaining sufficient burial space for future generations.”

Moodley added that JCPZ will collaborate closely with the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) to identify and secure additional land for new cemetery sites.

“We are committed to working with the City of Johannesburg and relevant stakeholders to secure land that can help alleviate pressure on our existing cemeteries and cater for future burial needs in the next 4 to 5 decades. Additionally, JCPZ is actively lobbying for policy changes that will allow for the more effective use of burial space and the sustainable management of cemetery resources,” she said.

JCPZ has urged residents to consider alternative interment options to ease the strain on the city's limited burial spaces, including cremation, mausoleums, and second burials within family graves.

For families still in need of first-time burial spaces, JCPZ stated that City Parks will be redirecting requests to the three active cemeteries in the city, which currently have sufficient capacity to accommodate burials for the next 30 to 40 years. These cemeteries are:

Olifantsvlei Cemetery (Located in the far south of Johannesburg)
Waterval Cemetery (Located in Midrand)
Diepsloot Cemetery (Located in the northern part of Johannesburg)

Currently, 39 of the 42 cemeteries managed by JCPZ are at full capacity.

“JCPZ is committed to ensuring that burial services remain available and we appeal to residents and funeral directors to utilise available cemetery resources efficiently and consider alternative sustainable burial options.”

The JCPZ added that they are actively lobbying for policy changes that will allow for the more effective use of burial space and the sustainable management of cemetery resources.

The draft cemetery, parks, and nature reserve by-laws are currently under review through a public engagement process. Residents are encouraged to take the time to view the draft by-laws on www.joburg.org.za.

Meanwhile, residents have expressed concerns over the lack of maintenance and upkeep at the Pretoria East cemetery.

According to media reports, the cemetery is in a dire state, with no boundary wall on its western side and overgrown grass covering graves and headstones. The overall lack of maintenance has made the site unsafe and unwelcoming for visitors.

Speaking to The Star, Ward 101 Councillor Malcolm de Klerk expressed his shock at the current state of the cemetery, stating that he has never seen it in such a condition before, despite repeatedly requesting assistance for its maintenance.

De Klerk stated that the City of Tshwane had been in discussions with an advertising firm for a sponsorship deal to build a boundary wall; however, the agreement has since fallen through.

“There was a sponsorship deal with an advertising firm but unfortunately the City of Tshwane drags (its) heels and the sponsorship has since fallen through. It poses a risk to not only mourners but infrastructure within the Cemetery,” he said.

He added that while the cemetery is in a dire state, there is still sufficient space for future expansion.

“There's still sufficient space for more expansion, but at this current (time), it will need a private partnership to come into the Cemetery to assist as it seems the City can't cope with the size of the space to maintain regularly,” De Klerk said.

The Star

masabata.mkwananzi@inl.co.za

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