Muslim Cemetery Board (MANCOM)

The MJC has been negotiating with the City of Cape Town since 2004 when the Imaarah began to address the serious need for additional Muslim Burial space in Cape Town. The Council has argued that Muslims have a right, like all faith communities, to practice their religion without discrimination or prejudice. The MJC believes that the City Council should provide space if they do not have enough burial ground in our private Muslim cemeteries.

MUSLIM CEMETERIES

Klip Road North Cemetery

The MJC Cemetery Mancom has been fortunate to obtain 3,525 graves for Muslim burials in an extension, a separate area from the existing Cemetery, in Klip Road Grassy Park. The Muslim cemetery was officially opened on 15 December 2008. The cemetery is now in full use and very well administered by an Area Committee.

The Mitchell’s Plain/Khayelitsha Muslim Cemetery (also known as Swartklip Cemetery)

The MJC Cemetery Mancom was allocated 783 graves in the Khayelitsha Cemetery situated on the corner of Steve Biko and Swartklip Roads. Through the valiant efforts of the Mitchell’s Plain Islamic Society (MPIS), an Area Committee has been set up. The Muslim Cemetery was officially opened on 23 April 2011.

Modderdam Road Muslim Cemetery

A separate section for Muslim burials has been set aside in the Modderdam Municipal Cemetery in Belhar. Fortunately, for the MJC Cemetery Mancom there is an existing, fully functional Ulama body known as the Ulama of the Northern Suburbs who are administering burials in this cemetery. There are 200 graves available for Muslims.

Overberg Muslim Cemetery

In March 2012, on an initiative of Muslims in the Kleinvlei/Eerste River – an area representing, inter alia the Arnold Muslim Burial Society – took charge of a section of the Welmoed Municipal Cemetery in Main Road, Welmoed for Muslim burials.

Other Municipal Cemeteries

Through regular sittings with the City Council of Cape Town, where the MJC has normally been fully represented, it has been fortunate to obtain burial grounds for Muslims in the following areas: Delft – 254 graves, from 1 December 2011; Atlantis – 209 graves, opened in August 2011; and 68 in the Muizenberg Cemetery.

ATTEMPTS TO RE-OPEN PREVIOUSLY CLOSED MUSLIM CEMETERIES

The MJC regrets that the City of Cape Town has not given permission for the previously closed cemeteries at Tana Baru in Bo Kaap, Cape Town (closed by the Council in 1886) and Brommersvlei in Constantia, known also as Parish Road Cemetery (closed in 1936) to be re-opened. Both cemeteries remain closed. Negotiations for their re-opening are on-going but progress is slow. Efforts have also been made to re-open the Muslim Cemetery in Brodie Road, Wynberg which the late Boeta Salie Dawjee had been trying to re-open for many years. The MJC is also trying to re-open the Stegman Road Cemetery in Claremont which was closed in 1901.