Durban’s 65 cemeteries are reaching capacity. The municipality is intending to expand Newlands Cemetery and improvements are underway at Ottawa Cemetery.
Image: Henk Kruger African News Agency (ANA)
FOR families already dealing with the loss of a loved one, the search for a final resting place is becoming another source of pain.
Across eThekwini, a shortage of burial space is forcing some grieving families to face delays, unexpected costs, and difficult decisions over where and how their loved ones will be laid to rest.
In a recent statement, Daniel Logan Mea, the DA’s eThekwini Community Services Whip, said that a response to Section 27 questions submitted by the political party to the eThekwini Municipality in May revealed that burial space was rapidly diminishing, while long-term planning had failed to keep pace with population growth.
65 municipal cemeteries
The municipality currently operates 65 cemeteries in eThekwini.
“The response further reveals that, while additional land has been identified to expand Newlands Cemetery and improvements are underway at Ottawa Cemetery, the municipality has no intention of implementing a cemetery re-landscaping.
“Equally concerning is the municipality's inability to provide a clear estimate of its monthly burial demand. Instead of supplying the requested statistics, it merely acknowledges that demand remains high and continues to place pressure on existing cemetery infrastructure.
“While the municipality states that it is identifying additional land for future cemetery development and considering alternative burial methods such as cremation, mausoleums, and vertical burial systems, it has provided no clear timelines for delivering additional burial infrastructure,” he said.
Mea added that every resident deserved the dignity of being laid to rest in accordance with their religious beliefs, cultural traditions, and family wishes.
“When the DA takes over eThekwini in November, we will conduct a comprehensive audit of all municipal cemeteries, publish accurate burial capacity statistics, prioritise long-term planning for burial infrastructure, and ringfence funding to develop additional cemetery space.”
Funeral service providers
Meanwhile, funeral service providers said the shortage was placing an additional burden on families at a time when they were already emotionally vulnerable.
Christopher Moodley, owner, director, and manager at Pinetown Funeral Services, said the challenge extended far beyond “simply finding a grave”.
He said limited burial space could also result in delays or changes to funeral plans.
“Funeral parlours work within a very short timeframe to coordinate with numerous parties, including the family, cemetery or crematorium, religious leaders, churches or venues, transport providers and other service providers. When a preferred cemetery cannot accommodate a burial, many of these arrangements may have to be reconsidered or rescheduled.
“There can also be additional financial implications for families. If a burial cannot take place at the preferred municipal cemetery, a family may need to consider another cemetery further away, which could involve additional transportation and logistical expenses.
“Families may also consider cremation or private cremation facilities as an alternative, which can carry different costs depending on the facility and services required. These are expenses that families may not necessarily have anticipated when planning the funeral,” he said.
Moodley said the pressure on funeral parlours and their staff should also not be underestimated.
“We are often the people standing between a grieving family and the various institutions involved in arranging a funeral. Families understandably look to their funeral director for solutions. Our staff, therefore, spends additional time contacting cemeteries, investigating availability, reorganising schedules and explaining alternative options to families at an extremely emotional time.
“We believe municipalities need to engage more closely with funeral service providers, communities, religious organisations, and other stakeholders to develop a sustainable long-term strategy for burial space. This should include identifying and developing additional suitable cemetery land, improving the maintenance and management of existing cemeteries, providing clear and regularly updated information regarding grave availability, and ensuring that cemetery administration and booking processes are efficient.
“There also needs to be greater forward planning. Population growth and mortality trends are not unexpected, and cemetery capacity should form part of long-term municipal infrastructure planning. Families should not have to confront an avoidable administrative or logistical crisis while they are grieving,” he said.
Pressure
Dhayalan Moodley, director at Moodley's Funeral Services, said the shortage had added more pressure.
“It is stressful for both the funeral service provider and grieving family. It is heartbreaking when you have to tell a family that you are unable to find burial space. The last resort is a private cemetery and sadly the families have no alternative but to pay a hefty price.”
Moodley said that there was an urgent need for the municipality to identify new burial land, and buying vast unused land should be a priority.
Limited space
Kumar Covenden, owner and director at Umhlanga Funerals, said limited burial space had “undoubtedly” placed them in a difficult situation when they were unable to provide the service that was required.
“The shortage of available burial sites results in delays due to the time taken to find available burial sites. Furthermore, if we are able to secure a burial site at a private cemetery, the fee is exorbitant compared to the municipal tariff.
“We believe the identification of available land to open up more cemeteries should be a matter of urgency,” he said.
Population growth
Senzelwe Mzila, the city’s spokesperson, said the “critical and accelerating” shortage of burial space was driven by population growth, mortality trends, cultural preferences, historical mortality patterns, environmental challenges, and land-use constraints.
He said all 65 municipal cemeteries had reached capacity, placing significant pressure on the municipality to identify and develop additional burial land.
“The municipality currently conducts approximately 6 000 burials per annum, including pauper and indigent burials. The current stock of new graves is approximately 2 500, which is anticipated to last for about six months, depending on mortality rates.”
Mzila said Durban’s population had grown substantially since 1994, driven by urban migration and economic development.
“This population growth, together with the impact of historical waves of violence, HIV/AIDS and the Covid-19 pandemic, has contributed to sustained pressure on burial space, including pressure on traditional and communal land.”
Mzila said that, as a solution, the municipality previously resorted to the reuse of graves.
“However, grave recycling was discontinued in 2022. The practice had been widely rejected by communities due to cultural and religious sensitivities and concerns regarding dignity and cemetery management.”
Environmental compliance
Mzila said the municipality was actively pursuing opportunities to increase burial capacity.
“Land acquired at Ottawa for cemetery development remains subject to environmental compliance requirements, including obligations under Section 28 of the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998. These environmental processes may take three years or longer, depending on the required studies and approvals.
“The municipality has also identified potential new burial sites. A proposed cemetery in Inanda comprises approximately 19 hectares, has environmental approval and is zoned for cemetery use. The site has an estimated capacity of between 20 000 and 25 000 graves and is considered a turnkey development,” he said.
Mzila added that the municipality was also exploring sustainable alternatives, including the increased use of cremation.
“Cremation can assist in reducing pressure on available land and limit exposure of cemetery infrastructure to weather-related damage. The municipality will continue engaging communities, religious organisations and traditional leaders to ensure that any alternative burial practices are approached in a culturally sensitive and dignified manner.”
