August 2, 2005
By Tshepiso Seopa
WITH burial sites at a premium in Johannesburg, City Parks has set aside 200 hectares for the development of a new cemetery in Waterval, Midrand.
Waterval cemetery would be operational later in the year, as soon as all the bulk infrastructure was put in place, said City Parks marketing and communications manager Jenny Moodley.
Speaking at the launch of the cemetery last week, Council Speaker Nandi Mayethula-Khoza announced that Diepsloot and Eikenhof would also benefit from new burial sites.
While Waterval would have space for 320 000 graves, Diepsloot would provide 120 000 primary burial sites on a 60ha site and the 140ha site in Eikenhof would have space for 280 000 graves. This would create a total of 720 000 new burial sites in Johannesburg, Mayethula-Khoza said.
The City has 33 existing cemeteries, with 27 of those at capacity for first burials. Several cemeteries now only offer second burials, where a grave is reopened for another burial.
The last cemetery to be developed in Johannesburg was Avalon, in Soweto, in 1972.
Mayethula-Khoza said R20-million had been put aside to develop the Waterval cemetery.
"This includes a comprehensive road network, storm water, sewer and irrigation systems, lighting, landscaping and demarcation of grave sites, ablution facilities, fencing, signage, security and construction of an administration block."
Unveiling the plaque: (from left) Councillor Christine Walters, Speaker Nandi Mayethula-Khoza, City Park's Oscar Oliphant, ward councillor Margaret Mokale, City Park's chairperson Pumla Radebe, and ward councillor Sina Gwebu
About 20 hectares will be used as a private cemetery, with a third party responsible for its management.
A further 20 hectares will be used for Muslim burials and the remaining land will be developed as a regional-municipal cemetery, managed by Johannesburg City Parks.
A struggle and heritage site has been identified to be set up at the Waterval cemetery.
"Johannesburg City Parks is also actively developing a struggle and heritage route that links cemeteries where our stalwarts like Walter Sisulu, Joe Slovo and Enoch Sontonga are laid to rest," Mayethula-Khoza added.
Although new burial grounds were being developed, the Speaker also urged people to consider other options, including cremation and second burials.
"Johannesburg City Parks is committed to ensuring that our loved ones are afforded dignity and respect when they are laid to rest. However, as custodians of our green space it is also the City's responsibility to ensure that we exhaust alternative dignified options in relation to burial."
Christine Walters, the mayoral committee member for community services, roads and parks, spoke about the challenges of urbanisation. "We are one of the fastest growing metropoles in the world and, like most cities facing the effects of burgeoning urbanisation, we are also faced with the challenge of increasing burial trends."
Four trees were planted at the launch of the Waterval cemetery, symbolising City Parks's vision to be the leading African green environment and cemetery management company.
Peter Mokale of the Holiness Church of Christ in Alexandra said it was a good idea to open the cemetery. "It means that people will be buried near their homes. Loved ones will be able to visit their dearly departed and they can come and pray without a hassle."
Ward councillor William Chuene, from Ward 92 in Region 7, said because of the struggle to get burial space many people had resorted to burying their loved ones in Tembisa.
"It is not easy for us Africans to consider other options of burial, but we have had to resort to reburials or taking our loved ones to far places."
The three new cemeteries are expected to provide enough burial space for the next 30 to 40 years.
Permission to use web site material
Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as:
- Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website
(www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency
(www.joburg.org.za)";
- If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original
article on this website;
- The name of the article's author is acknowledged;
-
The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill
in this brief online form).
Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 |
