Latest news with #JCPZ
The Citizen
2 days ago
- General
- The Citizen
Mandela Day tree planting initiative ends in tension over illegal tree felling
What began as a symbolic and hopeful Mandela Day morning for Ward 94 councillor David Foley quickly turned into a confrontation over urban tree protection and accountability. Foley kicked off the day planting trees at both Fourways Gardens Estate and Fourways Mall, alongside Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ), part of a broader initiative to promote urban greening under the Mandela Day spirit of giving back, but, later that afternoon, while driving back with Fourways Review, Foley spotted something that brought the celebrations to a halt. Read more: Fourways Gardens Estate plant 67 trees for 67 minutes of Mandela Day Just nearby the estate, several individuals were cutting down trees. Concerned, Foley stopped his car and approached the group to clarify the legality of their actions. What followed was a tense exchange between the councillor and the property owner, who claimed the trees were damaging infrastructure and lifting the tar from the road. Foley, however, made it clear that unauthorised tree removal, especially on public property, is illegal and could carry serious consequences. 'This will be an example for many who are doing the same thing as him. You cannot cut down trees. You are breaking the law. That is the responsibility of JCPZ.' JCPZ, still active in the area for Mandela Day, were swiftly informed. Known for their fierce advocacy of green spaces, officials reacted strongly, contacting the property owner directly and requesting a formal explanation. Dr Joseph Ndou, an environmentalist from JCPZ, said a fine is now pending, and the matter will be thoroughly investigated. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
2 days ago
- General
- The Citizen
Fourways Gardens Estate plant 67 trees for 67 minutes of Mandela Day
Fourways Gardens Estate marked Nelson Mandela Day by organising a tree planting initiative, themed: Planting for the Next Generation. In collaboration with Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ), as well as Life Green Group, the estate planted 67 trees, symbolising the 67 minutes of service that Mandela inspires. This meaningful event not only honoured Madiba's legacy; it highlighted the importance of environmental stewardship and community involvement. Read more: Lonehill gears up to build hope this Mandela Day Dr Joseph Ndou, an environmental expert from JCPZ, flagged the significance of the day, noting Mandela's legacy and commitment to the environment. 'He gave his life to ensure that we get good services and freedom in the country. That's why, as an organisation, we felt that it is important that we also leave a legacy that our kids will take from us by planting trees.' He said the choice to plant trees was particularly fitting, given Mandela's passion for the environment and the lasting impact it would have on future generations. The estate's chairperson, Ryan Horsman, spoke highly about the importance of community involvement and planning for future generations. 'We got various stakeholders involved in taking care of these projects. It goes a long way in planning for future generations. These trees, in 15 to 20 years, are going to bear the fruits of what we have done now.' The collaborative approach demonstrates the estate's commitment to creating a sustainable and thriving community. The theme resonated throughout the event, as participants recognised the importance of leaving a sustainable legacy for those to come. The estate chose to plant indigenous trees, which are low-maintenance and water-efficient, contributing to a greener future. Ndou added that the trees planted include a mix of fast-growing and gradual-growing varieties, ensuring a diverse and thriving ecosystem. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
01-07-2025
- The Citizen
Burial halted after discovery of bones in blanket at Johannesburg cemetery
Burial halted after discovery of bones in blanket at Johannesburg cemetery A planned funeral for Kurt Edward's father, who passed away on June 29, took an unexpected and distressing turn after a troubling discovery was made at his late mother's gravesite in Westpark Cemetery. Northcliff Melville Times reports Edward had intended for his father to be laid to rest above his mother, who died in 2015. The burial was scheduled for July 4, however, on July 1, he received an urgent call from his sister, who had been contacted earlier by officials from Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) — the custodians of the cemetery. City Parks staff requested an immediate family presence at the grave after making a shocking find during preparations for the upcoming burial. Edward rushed to the site, where he was shown a white blanket lying within the grave, containing what appeared to be a small bone. Also on the blanket were a few decorative beads. The discovery immediately raised questions about what, or who, had been buried there. According to Edward, City Parks officials admitted they were uncertain about the nature of the find and sought his permission to investigate further. 'They said they couldn't proceed until they found the skull,' Edward explained. 'Without that, they can't determine whether it's human remains or something else.' So far, only two small bones have been recovered, and no skull has yet been located. Spokesperson of the JCPZ Jenny Moodley stated that the cemetery manager at Westpark Cemetery was alerted by ground staff during preparations to reopen a grave for a scheduled burial in the same plot where a family member was interred in 2015. 'During this process, what appears to be the remains of the individual buried in 2015 were encountered.' In line with JCPZ's standard protocols, the affected family was promptly informed. She concluded that all procedures followed were in accordance with cemetery management regulations and respectful burial practices. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
23-06-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Kariba weed came, saw, but didn't conquer Lonehill Dam
It took Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) R300 000 and 20 days of hiring equipment to clean up the aggressive Kariba weed at Lonehill Dam. The staggering price included the equipment's operator and fuel. Councillor David Foley, from Ward 94, was onsite on June 6, with Rob van der Pauw, putting in more eco granules to ensure that the nine week project to rehabilitate the dam was not in vain. Wendell Africa, stakeholder from JCPZ doing oversight, was at the dam at the same time, and they could all see that the dam is no doubt getting better everyday. Foley said the eco tab granules will purify the water resulting in the reduction of nitrates that the Kariba weed feeds on. 'It breaks down the sludge at the base of the dam, purify the water so it becomes clearer.' Also read: Lonehill Dam breathes again after months being choked by Kariba weed He said the food source of the weed, as in the nitrates, will reduce and limit the growth of the weed, therefore it should die off over time. 'The ecosystem will recover. A good test will be when the frogs return, which means the environment is at a suitable level for nature to thrive. The cost of the eco tab granules will be determined by the success of the exercise, but should not be more than R50 000, as per the initial proposal submitted to JCPZ.' Kariba weed is a free-floating plant that does not attach to the soil; instead, it remains buoyant on the surface of a body of water. The fronds are 0.5–4cm long and broad, with a bristly surface caused by the hair-like strands that join at the end to form eggbeater shapes. Read more: Industrial harvester arrives to tackle Kariba weed at Lonehill Dam The plant has been hovering over the Lonehill Dam since November last year, and since then, experts and authorities have been splitting hairs about how to stop the invasive plant before it harms the fish in the dam. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
22-05-2025
- General
- IOL News
Westpark Cemetery's impending closure sparks a shift towards cremation in Johannesburg
Westpark Cemetery in Johannesburg is expected to reach capacity for new burials by August 2025. Image: Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo As the Westpark Cemetery in Johannesburg faces imminent closure as it nears full capacity, some African families who previously did not believe in cremation are now seeing it as the way to go. At least 38 of the 42 cemeteries operated by the Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) in Gauteng are at full capacity. This leaves the City of Gold with the Olifantsvlei Cemetery in the far south of Johannesburg, the Waterval Cemetery in Midrand, the Diepsloot Cemetery in the northern part of Johannesburg, and the Hamberg Cemetery in Roodepoort, which is set to be reactivated in June 2025, after previously being dormant. The JCPZ has assured residents that there is sufficient burial space to meet the city's needs for the next 30 to 40 years, and this excludes future expansions and the activation of currently dormant cemeteries. Westpark Cemetery, located in Randburg, will officially close at the end of August 2025, and it has been operational since 1942. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Debbie Mmusi, a Johannesburg resident, expressed her disappointment with the break-ins at cemeteries and now prepares to build a memorial wall in the backyard of her family home where they will deposit their ashes. Mmusi said that she had initially wanted to buy four empty tombs at Westpark Cemetery, because she wanted all of her family members to be buried in the same site when they die. However, after seeing the desecration of ash walls at the Braamfontein Cemetery and the vandalism of tombstones in other cemeteries, she asked her family members about their thoughts on cremation, and they all didn't have a problem with it. At that time, the JCPZ said an investigation found that over 4,000 ash walls, some over 50 years old, were either damaged due to fallen branches or deliberately desecrated and ransacked. Mmusi said: 'I am going to build a wall of remembrance at the back of the family property; it will have pigeonholes the size of a brick to fit whatever we put the ashes in. Then we will seal it off and put a family name, the names of all the descendants of the family member, and a picture of the deceased loved one. In case we decide to sell the property later, we will move with our ashes.' She added that putting the ashes in the remembrance wall in the backyard will ensure that the loved ones remain there with dignity, and the wall will be taken care of. Mmusi encouraged other families to consider cremation. Her deceased loved ones are buried in at least five different cemeteries, she said. 'The thing is, at the cemeteries right now, tombstones are being destroyed, tombstones are left unattended, and people instantly forget where their relatives are buried,' she said. However, the JCPZ said all cemeteries, including dormant and inactive sites, are supported by dedicated maintenance, security, and administrative teams. 'The JCPZ also collaborates with law enforcement and community safety partners to safeguard these spaces against vandalism and neglect.' Muzi Hlengwa, spokesperson for the Unification Task Team of the Funeral Industry of South Africa (UTT), said the closure of cemeteries has dire consequences for the undertakers and pushes up the funeral expenses. 'Currently, there is a huge traffic jam at the cemeteries, and tombs are too close together. Even when the undertaker is done with the funeral, they struggle to get out of the cemetery due to the space limitations. You find that instead of spending 30 minutes at the gravesite, you end up staying for three hours because the exit is blocked by traffic from other family funerals. You lose time trying to enter, and also lose time trying to exit the cemetery,' Hlengwa said. In a normal situation, he said, undertakers could use the same hearse to deliver the body for family A and return and deliver for family B, but now, because of the shortage of space resulting in traffic jams at the cemetery, undertakers cannot double-book the hearse anymore. 'Now, as the undertaking business, we have to have more fleet than we were supposed to. This leads to an increase in funeral expenses. If an undertaker is able to do two funerals with one hearse on the same day, the costs can be split between two families, resulting in lower expenses. Whereas, if it is one hearse for one funeral per day, the cost becomes high,' he said. Jenny Moodley, spokesperson for the JCPZ, said a comprehensive, multi-faceted strategy is being implemented to address long-term burial space availability. Interventions include phased out reduction of burials at Westpark Cemetery, reactivation of dormant cemeteries, promotion of alternative burial options, and the development of new cemeteries, she said. Moodley added that the JCPZ is engaging traditional leaders, interfaith forums, funeral directors, and community organisations to ensure inclusive planning and culturally sensitive solutions. There are also public awareness campaigns and family support services. 'Families affected by the gradual closure of Westpark are being supported by cemetery staff, who assist with referrals to alternative cemeteries and advise on options such as reopening family-held graves for additional burials. 'JCPZ recognises the deeply personal and cultural importance of burial practices. We remain committed to delivering dignified, respectful, and sustainable end-of-life services for all Johannesburg residents. Our goal is to balance current demands with responsible long-term planning for future generations,' she said. The annual average demand for burial space in Johannesburg currently ranges between 14,000 and 15,000 burials per year. She said the burials at Westpark are being gradually reduced, with the cemetery expected to reach capacity for new burials by August 2025. According to her, the JCPZ is exploring unused land in dormant cemeteries such as Hamberg and identifying infill opportunities within other dormant cemeteries, to be developed as funding allows. 'We have seen a growing number of residents, across faiths, opting for cremation or reopening existing graves; practices that promote sustainable use of cemetery land. Additionally, cemeteries such as Avalon, Westpark, and Alexandra are seeing increasing use of family grave reopenings, a positive trend in efficient land use,' Moodley said.
