City increases allotment for Muslim burials

14 January 2021

The City of Cape Town is working closely with the Muslim Judicial Council to increase burial capacity at City cemeteries for Muslim burials.

Currently, City cemeteries accommodate approximately 150 Muslim burials per month.

The City respects all residents’ religious rights and therefore works actively with the MJC to ensure Islamic burial rights, particularly in terms of a  Muslim’s right to be buried on the same day of death.

City Cemeteries with Muslim allotments are Muizenberg, Dido Valley, Ocean View, Klip Road, Maitland, Atlantis, Delft, Wallacedene, Welmoed, Khayelitsha, and Kleinvlei.

COVID-19 has increased the number of janazahs per month, which has caused space to fill quickly and has led to the City opening up more space for our Maitland Cemetery.

Until now, Klip Road Cemetery has been the preferred burial site, but regrettably, the Muslim allotment at this site has been exhausted.

While there is sufficient capacity at other cemeteries, the City has also created a new Muslim burial block at the Maitland Cemetery that can accommodate a further 837 graves.

This in addition to the burial blocks created for all denominations in 2020, as part of the City's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The City is working with the MJC to ensure that burials happen timeously, with dignity and in line with the City's operations.

To this end, we appeal to the Muslim community to please try and bury during working hours where possible and before sunset, in the interest of funeral-goers' safety, but also City staff.

The MJC has also provided Area Coordinators who can facilitate the burial documentation after hours when the City's cemetery offices are closed.

Payment for the grave before burial is mandatory for everyone who uses the City's Cemeteries.

The City does not charge after-hours tariffs, however does make special arrangement for Muslim burials to be facilitated until sunset.

Enquiries about the City’s Cemeteries can be directed to our Area offices between 07:30 and 16:00,Monday to Friday or via email to Cemetery.Administration@capetown.gov.za.

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office