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Comment on the draft Burial, Cremation and Cemeteries Management Policy

The City of Cape Town invites members of the public, stakeholders and interested parties to comment on the draft Burial, Cremation and Cemeteries Management Policy. The policy has been developed to establish a modern, comprehensive and integrated framework for the management of burial, cremation and cemetery services within the municipal area. It seeks to address current and emerging challenges by strengthening governance, supporting the sustainable management of cemetery infrastructure, enabling innovative and environmentally responsible burial and cremation practices, and promoting dignified, accessible and culturally sensitive burial and cremation services. The policy also incorporates and replaces the City’s existing Burial or Cremation of Destitute Persons Policy (2015) by including a dedicated City-assisted Burials and Cremations section within the policy framework

Notice is hereby given in terms of section 17 of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, 2000 (Act 32 of 2000) that the Council invites the public and interested persons or groups to submit comments, recommendations or representations on the draft Burial, Cremation and Cemeteries Management Policy for a period of 63 days.

The 63-day comment period commences on 3 August 2026 and concludes on 5 October 2026

Comments, input and recommendations may be submitted in any of the following ways:

Comments input and recommendations in respect of the proposed policy can be submitted via email to Public.Participation@capetown.gov.za. or on via Clicking the Add a comment Button

Special assistance will be provided to people who cannot read or write, people with disabilities, and other disadvantaged groups who are unable to submit written comments, to ensure that their inputs or comments are recorded and submitted to the municipality. For this purpose, members of the above- mentioned groups may contact the City of Cape Town’s Public Participation Unit: Andre Louw at 021 400 9809 or Andre.Louw@capetown.gov.za.

Enquiries relating to the Draft Burial, Cremation and Cemeteries Management Policy can be directed to the Community Services and Health Directorate on the City of Cape Town website.

Kindly note that the proposed draft policy will be available for viewing on the City of Cape Town website: http://www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay.

Draft BCCM Policy.pdf

(629.5 KB)

English Advert.pdf

(91.5 KB)

Afrikaans Advert.pdf

(78.7 KB)

isiXhosa Advert.pdf

(91.8 KB)

Phases

Phases overview

Phase 1: Comment Phase

Comment Phase

Comment Phase

18 August 2026 22:00 - 5 October 2026 21:59

3 comments

Joanne Batist 2 weeks ago It has come to my attention about comments re burial grounds.My Parents are buried in Maitland and it has become VERY DANGEROUS to visit and tidy their grave. I've recently visited Durbanville Memorial Park and its quite expensive to book "something for the future ", its a lucrative business, I hope and pray The CCC can do something similar at a cost so that You can afford to have proper security etc.Thank You

Marc Smith2 weeks ago Consider links (as appropriate) to the City's Environmental Strategy and National Heritage Resources Act.Consider impacts of and access granted via tourism at cemeteries and similar sites (e.g. gravesite tours).Consider lessons learnt from cases such as the exhumation and interment of human remains at Prestwich Memorial. Also consider how, in such a case, communities could ask for the remains to be reinterred somewhere else and what such a process would entail.In cases like Prestwich, and future sites of a similar nature, consider how the City could manage such cases - especially where it is very difficult to identify descendants. Consider how the policy could allow for agreements to be established with volunteer and/or heritage organisations (for example) to help care for and maintain graves.Consider how the policy could allow for interpretative signage to be erected at all cemeteries, etc. to give general information on the cemetery as apposed to only having its name listed, and the associated conduct rules displayed, etc.Consider how the policy can guide what grave goods may be buried with human remains (e.g. jewelry, totems, religious objects, etc.). Down the line, grave goods associated with a burial could, for example, become significant in terms heritage from a historical, archaeological, or other perspective - as opposed to only the environmental impacts associated with the material nature of such goods.Consider how the policy could aid in cemeteries, etc. becoming educational tools and sites beyond merely commemorative (e.g. allow for undertaker learnerships via formal agreements with appropriate schools and institutions; provide opportunities for archaeology students, etc. to be permitted to assist with moving of remains, etc.).Consider how (and if) the policy may address peoples requests to have cremated pets or animals buried with the deceased.Some of the above could be addressed and/or implemented through an action plan (or framework) linked to the policy and/or relevant City strategies.

Deen Ryan3 weeks ago

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