City of Joburg
By Lerato Mpembe
The Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) has warned that Westpark Cemetery will reach full capacity by May 2025, prompting the city to implement measures to manage the dwindling burial space. Established in 1956, Westpark has been a significant burial site for Johannesburg’s residents, but with the city’s growing population, the demand for burial sites has outpaced available land.
Virgil James, spokesperson for JCPZ, confirmed that burial capacity at Westpark Cemetery is nearly exhausted, and to manage the remaining space, burials are now limited to 15 per week. The city is now working to redirect burial requests to alternative cemeteries and explore long-term solutions, including acquiring new land for cemeteries.
“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.” – Virgil James, JCPZ Spokesperson.Burial Space Crisis in Johannesburg
The depletion of burial spaces is a growing challenge in Johannesburg. Out of the 42 cemeteries managed by JCPZ, 39 have already reached full capacity. This issue has been escalating for years, reflecting broader concerns about cemetery shortages across major South African cities.
James explained that dormant cemeteries continue to incur high maintenance costs, making it imperative for the city to develop new burial spaces while encouraging alternative options such as reopening graves, cremation, and mausoleums.
“As urban populations grow and available cemetery space diminishes, we face significant challenges in maintaining sufficient burial space for future generations. To address the current scarcity and future demand, JCPZ is exploring additional City of Johannesburg 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 four to five decades.”Alternative Burial Sites and Solutions
As part of its strategy to deal with the burial space shortage, JCPZ is redirecting burials to three active cemeteries with enough space to accommodate Johannesburg’s burial needs for the next 30-40 years:
1. Olifantsvlei Cemetery – Located in the far south of Johannesburg, it has significant burial capacity.
2. Waterval Cemetery – Located in Midrand, offering a central location for burials.
3. Diepsloot Cemetery – Serving the northern parts of Johannesburg.
“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 city is also urging families to consider alternative interment methods, such as:
• Reopening family graves for additional burials.
• Cremation as a more space-efficient option.
• Mausoleums for above-ground burials, commonly used in various cultural traditions.
The Growing Burial Space Crisis in South Africa
The issue of cemetery shortages is not unique to Johannesburg. Across South Africa, urban areas are running out of burial land, with experts warning that if current burial practices do not change, metropolitan areas could run out of cemetery space within 50 years.
In 2018, Johannesburg authorities first sounded the alarm, noting that only four cemeteries had space left for new burials. Municipalities in Cape Town, Durban, and Pretoria are also facing similar burial crises.
Reports have shown that the majority of South Africans still prefer traditional burials, despite the increasing land shortage. Cremation rates remain low, largely due to cultural and religious beliefs, putting additional pressure on available cemeteries.
In response to the crisis, municipalities are exploring:
• The expansion of existing cemeteries and acquiring new burial land.
• The reuse of older graves, where legally and culturally permissible.
• A shift towards alternative burial methods, such as eco-burials and memorial forests.
“Urban expansion has significantly reduced available land for cemeteries. If municipalities do not adopt sustainable burial practices, we will soon run out of burial space in our cities.” – Urban Development AnalystCommunity Reactions and Challenges
The looming closure of Westpark Cemetery has raised concerns among families and funeral service providers. Some residents have expressed worry about the costs associated with burials in alternative cemeteries, particularly for those living far from the designated sites.
A Johannesburg resident, Thandeka Ndlovu, who has family members buried in Westpark, expressed her concern:
“My family has been buried in Westpark for generations. It is heartbreaking to think that we will have to go elsewhere. The city should have planned better.”Meanwhile, funeral directors have urged the city to expedite plans for new cemeteries, as the demand for burial spaces continues to grow.
“The demand for burials continues to increase, and our biggest challenge is the lack of accessible cemetery space. While we understand the need for alternative sites, some families are resistant to cremation or grave reopening.” – Funeral Director, JohannesburgCity’s Future Burial Strategy
To ensure long-term burial space, the City of Johannesburg is conducting land assessments for potential new cemetery sites. Officials have indicated that the next four to five decades of burial needs will be factored into urban planning.
Virgil James assured residents that the city is working on securing additional land while engaging with communities on sustainable burial options.
“We understand that this is a sensitive issue, and we will work closely with communities to ensure burial options remain accessible and culturally appropriate.”The city has also stated that it will continue to explore additional land and alternative interment solutions.
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