Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo Announces Westpark Cemetery Will Reach Full Capacity by May 2025 and Urges Residents to Consider Alternative Burial Options

Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) has announced that Westpark Cemetery will be at full capacity by May 2025, marking a significant challenge in the city’s management of burial space.

Currently, the cemetery is limiting the number of burials to just 15 per week, as available space continues to dwindle.

JCPZ Addresses the Growing Burial Space Crisis

Jenny Moodley, a spokesperson for JCPZ, acknowledged the urgency of the situation, emphasizing that this issue is critical for both immediate and long-term planning.

As the urban population continues to grow and available burial space decreases, Johannesburg faces increasing difficulty in accommodating future burial needs.

To address this, JCPZ is actively looking into additional land options in the city to establish new cemeteries.

These new sites will be crucial in easing the pressure on existing burial spaces and ensuring there’s enough capacity for the next 40 to 50 years.

Additionally, JCPZ is lobbying for changes to current policies to improve the management of cemetery resources, ensuring they are used efficiently and sustainably.

Moodley also pointed out that 39 out of the 42 cemeteries managed by JCPZ are already at full capacity, highlighting the growing challenge the city faces in terms of maintaining its burial grounds, especially since dormant cemeteries require costly upkeep.

Exploring Alternative Burial Options as Westpark Reaches Capacity

As Westpark Cemetery nears full capacity, JCPZ has urged Johannesburg residents to consider alternative burial options to help alleviate the pressure on available spaces.

These alternatives offer a more sustainable and cost-effective way to manage interments while reducing the long-term burden on cemetery resources.

Reopening Existing Graves

One option is to reopen existing graves for interments of other family members.

This practice helps preserve valuable burial space, while also reducing the costs associated with maintaining large areas of unused cemetery land.

Additionally, it helps minimize the expenses of installing new headstones and the ongoing maintenance of dormant plots.

Cremation as a Sustainable Alternative

Cremation is another popular alternative to traditional burial.

While not embraced by every culture or faith, cremation is increasingly seen as an environmentally conscious and space-saving choice.

It offers a more sustainable way to handle remains while addressing the growing need for burial space.

Mausoleums for Above-Ground Interments

Families can also consider building mausoleums—above-ground burial chambers that can accommodate multiple family members.

This provides a long-term solution for families looking for a dignified and lasting burial space.

Alternative Cemeteries with Available Space

For families still in need of first-time burial plots, JCPZ is redirecting requests to three active cemeteries that still have sufficient capacity for the next 30-40 years.

These cemeteries include:

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

A Growing Challenge: South Africa’s Burial Space Shortage

As burial space continues to become more scarce, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo is calling for residents to explore these alternative options.

The issue of diminishing cemetery space is not just a local concern but part of a wider challenge facing South Africa, with many regions experiencing similar pressures.