BRAAMFONTEIN CEMETERY WALLS RESTORED

Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) are the custodians of green open spaces and cemeteries in the city. Working with Friends of Johannesburg Cemeteries, volunteers and contractors, they recently restored many ash walls in the Braamfontein cemetery which had been either vandalised and desecrated, or storm-damaged by fallen branches. The walls had been knocked to the ground. Teams assessed the damage and recorded every niche of each ash wall. Lists were corroborated against registers and digitised versions to ensure that each name had a niche number.

Restoration, maintenance and preservation efforts are ongoing and there is now additional 24-hour security, a canine unit and solar lighting. Broken windows have been repaired, trees have been pruned and the crematorium, admin building and parking section have all been upgraded.

The work undertaken is significant for preserving the final resting places of citizens’ loved ones, and also for restoring heritage grounds in Johannesburg.

www.jhbcityparksandzoo.com