CAPE TOWN – The future and possible expansion of the Klip Road Cemetery remains a pressing topic for local residents who want the City of Cape Town to ensure that their needs and opinions on the matter will be heard before its too late to comment.
Around 20 residents attended a community meeting regarding the cemetery’s possible expansion at the Issac Jabobs Hall near The League of Friends of the Blind on Thursday 11 December at 18:00.
At the meeting, residents could ask questions, share their views and learn how the project would impact Grassy Park and nearby areas such as: Lotus River, Parkwood, Ottery, Lavender Hill, Steenberg and Retreat.
The meeting was hosted and facilitated by Ward 65 Councillor Donovan Nelson and Siraaj Slamang, head of cemetery planning and transaction at the City of Cape Town.
It was announced that the City was facing a shortage of suitable and well-located burial space across the city according to the Recreation and Parks Department, which is responsible for the provision of burial space for the city. The department has identified parcels of land across the city which could potentially be developed into a cemetery that includes expanding existing cemeteries.
The proposed cemetery extension will take place along Klip and Victoria Roads and Prince George Drive in Grassy Park – about 5ha in extent.
The Gilray site will be not included in the city’s plans to expand the cemetery, as it was reported that the water table is too high.
“We’ve taken a look at all the cemeteries we have. We’ve got 40 cemeteries in the City of Cape Town, most of which are completely full. The ones that are actually taking new burials are Klip Road and Welmoed, which is in Eersteriver and Atlantis. As most of you know, on a Saturday it’s quite busy here, because this is one of the only cemeteries that are taking new burials, so we’re basically forced to come this side,” Slamang said.
There are three allocated portions that are being considered for the expansion:
- Portion 1 includes: Erven 75562 and 75567, Prince George Drive Drop-Off Facility.
- Portion 2 includes: erf 75569 along Victoria roads and Prince George Drive.
- Portion 3 consists of Erf 75570 along Klip Road.
The city hopes to spread the traffic congestion to different parts of the cemetery, and this involves Portion 1 (drop off facility) and Portion 3 (Klip Road entrance). The basic assessment report (BAR) and public partcipation process (PPP) closes at the end of December.
One of the residents who was upset about the expansion said he did not want “Grassy Park to be a dump site”.
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There were also appeals for a crematorium from some of the residents.
“You say you’re extending the area – what impact will that have on crime? We know that that there are people running through the graveyard at night, breaking in and using the graveyard as a exit point to Parkwood and other areas, so what security measures will be in place at the graveyard?” one resident asked.
The submission of the BAR and PPP to the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development planning (DEA&DP) takes place in January next year.
The competent authority decision-making process will occur towards May or June.
The development of a cemetery requires various feasibility studies to determine the suitability of the land for such. Its estimated that there will be 8 000 new graves across the city for the next three years.
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