Gravesite crisis: Are vertical cemeteries a solution to our lack of space?

South Africa is running out of space to bury the dead… Population growth, migration to urban areas and an influx of foreigners has put huge pressure on land in urban areas.

Adding to the problem is a cultural resistance to the alternative burial process of cremation.

A shortage of burial plots and viable land for cemeteries has been worsened by the pandemic’s death toll.

Vertical cemeteries

Many countries around the world have resorted to vertical cemeteries as an alternative burial method to fight the shortage of burial spaces, but will South Africa join the queue too?

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A vertical cemetery is a tall building structure with an intermingling of solid and void parts, the succession of which varies, creating different densities – and subsequently light qualities.

The burial process

The graves are incorporated in the solid concrete blocks as clustered chambers with minimum dimensions:

One chamber on top of each other, with a maximum of three graves per column. Each block in a column may host up to six graves.

The rest of the block’s space is filled with soil, with plants grown on top. Both will provide the necessary conditions for the decomposition process.

An irrigation system combined with sensors is incorporated into the structural elements, ensuring the right levels of humidity.

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Could SA consider vertical burial as an alternative burial method?

Due to the shortage of burial sites already in the country, and the challenges that come with vertical burial, South Africa can never have more space to build a vertical cemetery.

How will things be looking in years to come with the crisis we are currently facing?

Jenny Moodley, Spokesperson for City Parks and Zoo in Johannesburg, explains how bad the shortage of space is at the moment.

“While the City of Joburg has adequate burial space for the next 40-50 years, it is extremely important to educate residents on alternative burial options.

“Of the 32 cemeteries in the City of Joburg, 28 have reached full capacity for primary burials. The four available cemeteries for new burials are Olifantsvlei in the far south, Westpark in Montgomery Park, Diesploot Memorial Park and the Waterfall cemeteries in the north,” said Moodley.

City Parks continues to educate residents on effectively utilising existing cemeteries by considering second and third burials in the same grave as a loved one.

“This is a more dignified, affordable and centralised option to enable families to pay their last respects at one site and to erect a single tombstone for the family.

“In the recent years there have also been an increase in the number of families considering cremation as an option and erecting a mausoleum for the family. A mausoleum is an above ground set of burial chambers,“ said Moodley.

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WATCH: Reggie Moloi, Senior Manager at Westpark Cemetery, on alternative burial processes

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Families should discuss alternative burial

“It is extremely important that we all have that hard conversation with family members on how we would like to be interred,” Moodley said.

“Space is of huge concern and in the next few decades Joburg would have reached its full carrying capacity.”

“It, therefore, does not make sense that future generations absorb the high costs to maintain dormant cemeteries if there are dignified alternative burial options that are sensitive to cultural and traditional requirements,“ said Moodley.

City Parks encourages all families to visit their website to view the new burial tariffs and the various options to bid the final farewell to their loved ones.