The City of Cape Town said it had allocated extra space for 837 Muslim burials at Maitland cemetery after Klip Road cemetery in Grassy Park filled up.
In a statement, the municipality said it was
working with the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) to increase burial capacity at
the remaining 10 municipal cemeteries with a Muslim allotment. Cape Town also
has private Muslim cemeteries.
“Currently, city cemeteries accommodate
approximately 150 Muslim burials per month,” said the statement.
“Covid-19 has increased the number of janazahs
[funerals] 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 is in addition to burial blocks created
for all denominations in 2020 as part of the Covid-19 response.
“The city is working with the MJC to ensure
that burials happen timeously, with dignity and in line with the city's
operations,” said the statement.
“To this end, we appeal to the Muslim community
to please try to bury during working hours where possible and before sunset, in
the interest of funeral-goers' safety, but also city staff.”
Meanwhile, the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC)
has dismissed claims that it is involved in after-hours or penalty fees being charged
at the Mowbray Cemetery. This, after a video went viral on social media,
showing a worker at the cemetery refusing entry to a group of men who allegedly
arrived after the 4’o clock deadline, unless they pay a R500 fee. Second Deputy
of the MJC, Sheikh Riyaad Fataar, says the MJC has no authority over the
pricing structures, operating hours, and decisions made by the cemetery’s board,
because they are private.
Attached: MJC statement in response to Mowbray Cemetery videoDone By: Mitchum George
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