Westpark Cemetery in Johannesburg is nearing its capacity, prompting the city to seek public input on proposed cemetery bylaw changes. The cemetery, home to prominent South Africans, highlights the city's growing burial space constraints. The JCPZ encourages residents to consider reopening graves and mausoleums as sustainable alternatives.
The Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) has announced that the Westpark Cemetery will reach its full capacity by May of this year. This announcement comes just days before the deadline for public comment on the proposed revisions to the cemetery, parks, and nature reserve bylaws.
Westpark Cemetery is the final resting place of many prominent South Africans, including ANC stalwart Ahmed Kathrada, former president Nelson Mandela's first wife Evelyn Mase, legendary trumpeter Hugh Masekela, kwaito legend Mandoza, maskandi icon Johnny Clegg, and rapper AKA, among others.Joburg residents have until Friday to submit their comments on the proposed amendments to the bylaws, which address a range of issues including permissible coffin types, grave sizes, grave reservations, inferior memorial work, memorial inscriptions, and the recording of burials and cremations. The proposed review also outlines enforcement mechanisms by the City of Joburg, including fines, enforcement officers, and police involvement. According to the JCPZ, the cemeteries and crematoria bylaws include a penalty clause for violations, allowing the city to impose fines or imprisonment for up to six months, or both. For ongoing offenses, the offender may be liable for a proportionate share of the fine for each day the offense continues after being notified to cease the activity.Currently, the JCPZ is limiting burials at Westpark to 15 interments per week as 39 out of the 42 cemeteries it manages are already at full capacity. Concerns have been raised about vandalism and neglect at the city's older cemeteries, such as Brixton and Braamfontein. The JCPZ urges residents to consider reopening graves as an alternative, as some families have already opted for this solution for their relatives. The JCPZ maintains that reopening graves preserves valuable burial space and helps reduce the long-term costs associated with installing additional headstones and maintaining large, inactive cemetery areas. As an alternative for families seeking above-ground burial options, the JCPZ recommends considering mausoleums. The JCPZ will redirect burial requests to its three remaining active cemeteries: Olifantsvlei (south of Johannesburg), Waterval (Midrand), and Diepsloot, which have sufficient capacity for the next 30 to 40 years
BURIAL SPACE CEMETERIES JOHANNESBURG WESTPARK CEMETERY SOUTH AFRICA CITY PARKS AND ZOOLOGIC
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