Cape Town - Muslim cemeteries are experiencing severe strain and challenges, said Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) Burial Administration secretary and Muslim Cemetery Board chairman Faizal Sayed.
Sayed said cemeteries were under continual strain amid a shortage of land and the increase in population, and therefore resulting in an increase in demand.
“Johnson Road Cemetery is currently only doing reburials for example, whilst I was informed that Klip Road Cemetery only has a handful of available graves.”
He said the MJC was in continuous discussion with the City, to seek a resolution.
This resulted in the recent allotment of 144 burial plots at Rusthof Cemetery in Strand.
Sayed said there was an increase in the reopening of family graves for another burial, however this was purely due to family preferences and not because there was a lack of space.
“This is due to some awareness and also the ageing of graves in that a grave can only be reopened after a prescribed time has elapsed.
“Reopenings are only done at the request of the family of an existing grave who wishes to have a family member interred in that same grave,” Sayed said.
The City said this was welcomed as in the Helderberg area, there are no other cemeteries that accommodate Muslim burials, except for the Strand Muslim Cemetery, which has reached full capacity and only offers the re-opening of family graves for further burials.
The City said the Recreation and Parks Department is exploring the possibility of extending Rusthof and Sir Lowry’s Pass cemeteries.
Mayco member for community services and health Patricia van der Ross said there were about 1 741 Muslim burial plots available at City cemeteries, with opportunities to make more space available at Welmoed, Wallacedene, Rusthof and Atlantis cemeteries, if demand is evident.
Van der Ross said there were about 120 Muslim burials per month, with sufficient space to meet the demand.
“Unfortunately it may not always be possible to satisfy preferences to bury close to home, as cemeteries are under severe demand for space by all denominations.”