Steve Tshwete Local Municipality is opening a 113 hectare gravesite on March 3.
Rondebosch Cemetery will have a 50 year lifespan. Mhluzi township and the surrounding areas have been using Phomolong cemetery since 1998 and has reached its maximum burial capacity for adults. However, there are approximately 900 burial sites for children still available and second placements for families who wish to bury their loved ones in one place.
Middleburg population rate is growing at 4,4% per annum according to 2016 community survey which shows that the municipality is growing at a rapid rate. The municipality had to identify a new gravesite in Mhluzi where the bereaved families could bury their loved ones close to home unfortunately the area had no land suitable for the gravesite.
“The decision to establish a new cemetery in Rondebosch did not come unchallenged as the municipality understands the challenges of the community and the distance residents have to travel to bury their loved ones but Rondebosch is the only area suitable for the gravesite. Other burial sites the residents could utilize are Fontein Cemetery, Nasareth cemetery, Hendrina and Kwazaomkuhle cemetery,” read the municipality’s statement.
VIDEO: Rodenbosch Cemetery
The first gravesite in Mhluzi was Crossroads cemetery which long reached its full capacity as the township was still developing at the time. The then municipality opened the second gravesite called Avalon in 1990 which has also reached its full capacity.
