JOHANNESBURG City Parks is set to unveil a newly developed extension to the Avalon Cemetery.
The much-needed extension of the final resting place, which lies adjacent to the old cemetery, is 20 hectares. It will accommodate just over 25,000 graves.
The current size of Avalon Cemetery is 172 hectares, with about 200 burials a week. This is about 55 percent of burials in Johannesburg.
City Parks spokesperson Jenny Moodley said: "The new land was redeveloped to include land clearing and hard rock excavations, a road network, an attenuation pond and drainage system, ablution facilities, a guardhouse, landscaping and fencing at a cost of R11million.
"City Parks secured this land from the Gauteng government in exchange for land already zoned as a cemetery in Syferfontein, near Protea Glen.
"We are also encouraging families to consider the option to reopen old graves to bury other family members as this will alleviate the need for more burial ground. The current burial rate in Johannesburg averages 20000 per year throughout the 36 cemeteries in the city."
About 250 trees will be planted to ensure that the sanctity of the cemetery is retained.
City Parks' acting managing director Geoffrey Cooke said religious organisations and representatives of the Funeral Directors Association will attend the unveiling.
Some of South Africa's heroes buried at Avalon are:
- Former soccer star and trade unionist Lekelela Petrus Tshabalala;
- Struggle comrades Lilian Ngoyi and Helen Joseph requested a joint burial in Soweto's famous cemetery. Both women were forever bound by their similar experiences of being banned, arrested, jailed and charged with treason;
- Twelve-year-old Hector Pieterson; who was shot by police on June 16 1976.
- Tsietsi Mashinini, who led the June 16 1976 march;
- SACP icon and former housing minister Joe Slovo;
- There's also a tribute for 607 black troops who died in World War 1 aboard the SS Mendi.
The member of the mayoral committee for environment in the City of Johannesburg Matshidiso Mfikoe will unveil the tranquil, new extension.
More burial space at Avalon
JOHANNESBURG City Parks is set to unveil a newly developed extension to the Avalon Cemetery.
The much-needed extension of the final resting place, which lies adjacent to the old cemetery, is 20 hectares. It will accommodate just over 25,000 graves.
The current size of Avalon Cemetery is 172 hectares, with about 200 burials a week. This is about 55 percent of burials in Johannesburg.
City Parks spokesperson Jenny Moodley said: "The new land was redeveloped to include land clearing and hard rock excavations, a road network, an attenuation pond and drainage system, ablution facilities, a guardhouse, landscaping and fencing at a cost of R11million.
"City Parks secured this land from the Gauteng government in exchange for land already zoned as a cemetery in Syferfontein, near Protea Glen.
"We are also encouraging families to consider the option to reopen old graves to bury other family members as this will alleviate the need for more burial ground. The current burial rate in Johannesburg averages 20000 per year throughout the 36 cemeteries in the city."
About 250 trees will be planted to ensure that the sanctity of the cemetery is retained.
City Parks' acting managing director Geoffrey Cooke said religious organisations and representatives of the Funeral Directors Association will attend the unveiling.
Some of South Africa's heroes buried at Avalon are:
The member of the mayoral committee for environment in the City of Johannesburg Matshidiso Mfikoe will unveil the tranquil, new extension.
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