Residents of the City of Johannesburg are being urged to consider alternative burial options‚ including shared family graves and cremations.

Although the city has adequate burial space for at least the next 50 to 70 years‚ without considering plans to develop more cemeteries‚ it is looking at more sustainable and even environmentally friendly alternatives.

The Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development in the City of Joburg‚ Councillor Nonhlanhla Sifumba‚ said: “It is our responsibility‚ as the current leaders‚ to ensure that future generations do not inherit the burden of managing cemeteries that have reached full capacity‚ without educating our residents on alternative burial options”. Of the 32 cemeteries across Johannesburg‚ only four have not yet reached full capacity. Westpark‚ Olifantsvlei‚ Diepsloot and Waterval cemeteries are still able to house over one million future graves.

Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo‚ the custodians of the City of Johannesburg’s cemeteries and designated public open spaces‚ is encouraging residents to consider utilizing the same gravesite for the entire family.