A critical shortage of burial space is engulfing major South African metros, including Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ethekwini, forcing municipalities and citizens to urgently consider alternative burial methods.
The crisis was the central topic at the Cemeteries and Crematoria Association National Conference, where experts warned that cultural beliefs, urban development, and bureaucratic delays are compounding the problem.
During a televised discussion, officials outlined the stark reality. Azola Manjati, Head of Cemeteries and Crematoria at Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, confirmed that the city’s prominent West Park Cemetery is nearing full capacity and will soon be closed to new burials.
“West Park… we are going to close it. We are running to full capacity,” stated Manjati. The cemetery is now limited to just 15 interments per day.
While Manjati sought to reassure the public that Johannesburg still has space for the next 30 to 40 years through a combination of traditional and alternative methods, he emphasized that developing new cemeteries is a lengthy process, taking up to five years due to environmental studies and public participation.
Competition for Land and Cultural Challenges
A significant hurdle is the intense competition for land. Cyril Mtambo, Deputy Chair of the SA Cemeteries Association, highlighted that cemeteries are competing directly with housing, agriculture, and commercial development.
“The same soil that is required for housing is the same soil that is required for cemeteries,” explained Manjati, pointing to the difficult choice municipalities face between providing for the living and the dead.
Further complicating the issue are deep-seated cultural and religious beliefs. Pieter van der Westhuizen, a general manager at a funeral services group, noted that convincing communities to adopt alternatives like cremation or aquamation (water cremation) is difficult when it conflicts with their traditions.
“The issue is your belief system… You need to respect that. It’s a sensitive time in your life,” van der Westhuizen said. He reported a slower adoption rate for cremation outside of white communities, where it is more commonly accepted.
The Push for Alternatives and Education
In response, metros are aggressively promoting alternative solutions to conserve space. These include:
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Second and Third Interments: Re-opening existing graves to bury additional family members deeper in the same plot.
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Reduction Burials: After 20 years, exhuming remains, placing them in a smaller container, and re-burying them in the same grave to free up space.
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Cremation: While uptake is growing slowly, officials are intensifying education campaigns.
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Aquamation: An alkaline hydrolysis process that uses water instead of fire, though facilities are not yet widely available.
Manjati reported that second interments, particularly at historic cemeteries like Avalon, have been widely adopted. Johannesburg is also lobbying for policy changes, with a revised bylaw on cemetery management currently out for public comment until the end of September.
A National Conversation
The experts agreed that the solution requires a national cultural conversation and extensive public education, engaging with traditional leaders and religious groups to promote acceptance of sustainable practices.
Mtambo stressed the urgency, painting a stark picture for the future. “The population of South Africa is sitting at 63.1 million… which means this country will have to have 63.1 million graves,” he said. “If we don’t act now then the next generation will not have much… to work on in terms of dignified burial spaces.”
The burial space crisis is no longer a future concern but a pressing reality, demanding a collective shift in tradition and policy to ensure the dead can be laid to rest with dignity for generations to come.