Cape scrambles for land to die for

Cape Town hopes to bury a grave problem - shortage of space for the dead - by opening two new cemeteries.

Work is about to start on the new Metro South-East Cemetery in Mfuleni, with space for 24800 graves.

An even bigger cemetery between Somerset West and Firgrove will accommodate 26000 bodies.

The new facilities will bring to 42 the number of graveyards managed by the City of Cape Town, many of which are being extended after running out of burial space.

JP Smith, the mayoral committee member for social services, said 60% of Capetonians still preferred burial, often for cultural and religious reasons.

"We are in the difficult position of jockeying for land with other departments who are facing service delivery demands of their own, like provision of housing and community facilities," he said yesterday.

"Ongoing provision of burial space in response to need remains a priority for the city, however, we do ask that residents strongly consider cremation where cultural and religious beliefs do not preclude this.

"When loved ones have not specified how they would like to be interred, burial is often the default option.

"This choice needs to be openly talked about and preferences around how one would like to be laid to rest need to be recorded and communicated."

There were 26446 deaths recorded in Cape Town, resulting in 13500 burials in city cemeteries last year.

The rest were buried outside Cape Town, in private cemeteries, or cremated.