CAPE TOWN – The future and possible expansion of 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 Thursday evening 11 December at 18:00.
At the meeting, residents could ask questions, share their views and learn how the project will 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: cemetery planning and transaction at the City of Cape Town.
It was announced that the City is 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 which includes expanding existing cemeteries.
The proposed cemetery extension will take place along Klip and Victoria Roads and Prince George Drive in Grassy Park, ±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 hight.
Currently there are approximately 60 to 70 burials at the Klip Road Cemetery, mostly occurring on a Saturday, according to Slamang.
“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 its 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 3 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 includes 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.
“I partly blame the City for this rushed meeting. Every town should every cemetery whether its Mitchells Plain, Strandfortuin or New Horizon. For twenty years we’ve been moaning about this type of thing. The reason we’re sitting in this mess now is when the City decided to grab Gilray, that didn’t work now we’re sitting here with this problem. So I don’t know what’s going to happen to Grassy Park’s people once this cemetery is too full here? Where’s Grassy Park’s people going to be buried, must we start travelling again?” one concerned resident argued.
One of the residents who was upset about the expansion said he does not want “Grassy Park to be a dump site”.
Klip road’s alarming traffic congestion was also raised by some residents.
“Klip road is a no-go zone for emergency vehicles, the police, firefighters. If we must have a massive disaster here, we haven’t even got enough evacuation points where we can take the injured. So to me it seems Grassy Park’s becoming like a dump ground. Why can’t the City make the cemetery by Youngsfield? We all ratepayers they can take a piece of land there,” one elderly man said.
“It’s chaotic on a Saturday when it’s a funeral, sometimes even in the week so why thinking is why can’t the City improve the parking here,” one lady mentioned.
There were also appeals for a crematorium from some of the residents.
“There’s been a lot of funerals where there’s been gunshots going off, I don’t know how you’re going to protect these people because with the way they park, police then cannot come through, there has to be clear parking’s stating where they can or cannot park,” one lady mentioned.
“The problem is we also can’t expect cemeteries to play the role of safety and security, it’s become difficult in the context of where we are in this country where its becomes the responsibility of local government and that’s not feasible if you look at the way local government has to raise its money, it’s through ratepayers. I would say the department is trying their best to make sure there are safe spaces,” Nelson replied.
“You say you’re extending the area, what impact will that have on crime? We know that there are people running through the graveyard at night, breaking in and using the graveyard as an exit point to Parkwood and other areas, so what security measures will be in place at the graveyard?” one resident asked.
One resident asked why the traffic department wasn’t present at the meeting.
“People that should be in this public participation, is traffic, road network and disaster management because whatever direct impact on the environment is, you can’t answer that. I fail to see how the dead people are going to contribute towards an economy. The undertakes are the ones that are going to make the money. We are the people here that are going to say no to something that is not going to suit our needs. They’re not going to dump on Grassy Park. The City of Cape Town is not going to give Grassy Park the middle finger. If they’re looking for a fight they’re going to get a fight,” he said.
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 between May or June next year.
The development of a cemetery requires various feasibility studies to determine the suitability of the land for use as a cemetery. Its estimated that there will be 8 000 new graves across the City for the next three years.
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