One of Johannesburg's largest cemeteries and a resting place for some of the country's well-known celebrities will reach full capacity in May. This was announced by the Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ), which said that this marks an important moment in managing the city's burial space.

LAST MONTH

City Parks spokesperson Jenny Moodley said the cemetery is currently limiting burials to 15 interments per week. "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." She said they are committed to providing support for families during difficult times and respecting cultural practices to allow for appropriate and respectful burial options.

SPACE FOR GENERATIONS

Moodley said they are facing significant challenges in maintaining sufficient burial space for future generations. "To address the current scarcity and future demand for burial space, JCPZ is exploring additional CoJ 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 to future burial needs in the next 4 to 5 decades."

ALTERNATIVES

Moodley encourages residents to explore alternative interment options to reduce the strain on their limited burial spaces by reopening existing graves to inter loved ones from the same family, cremation, and mausoleums. Moodley said families may also consider the installation of mausoleums, which are above-ground multiple burial chambers to enter more than one family member. Three active cemeteries in the city that currently have sufficient capacity for the next 30-40 years are Olifantsvlei Cemetery in the far south of Johannesburg, Waterval Cemetery in Midrand, and Diepsloot Cemetery.