Westpark Cemetery is a large cemetery in Johannesburg, South Africa, and is the resting place of some of the country's well-known citizens. It is a non-denomination designated burial ground, and thus has Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Chinese burial areas. The Jewish section contains a Holocaust Memorial, erected in 1959.[1]
It was opened in 1942, and historically was part of one of Johannesburg's original farms, Farm Waterval, which was purchased in 1887 by two Geldenhuys brothers in the hope of finding gold. While they did not find gold, Louw Geldenhuys employed Boer War veterans to build the Emmarentia Dam, and leased smallholdings with fruit trees.
In 1993, 13 hectares were donated to the city for public recreation and, eventually with the other sections, became the Johannesburg Botanic Gardens, Marks Parks Sports Club and the Westpark Cemetery.[2] Today, the sprawling cemetery is the resting place of thousands of Johannesburg residents, and has separate Chinese, Muslim, Jewish, Christian and SANDF burial areas. Many ornate gravestones and mausoleums can be found throughout the park.
Westpark is an active cemetery, as burials are still allowed and performed.
Military plot
There are also specific areas for servicemen who have died in the line of duty. This cemetery contains war graves of 617 Commonwealth service personnel of World War II, mostly burials from military hospitals and an airfield, besides 21 non-Commonwealth war graves and seven non-war graves that are in care of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.[3][4]
The Military Plot contains the Johannesburg Cremation Memorial to 69 Commonwealth service personnel cremated at Johannesburg's Braamfontein Crematorium during the same war and is found directly behind the Cross of Sacrifice.[5]
Notable interments
Beyers Naudé – Christiaan Frederick Beyers Naudé (1915–2004) was a South African cleric, theologian and the leading Afrikaner anti-apartheid activist.
Westdene dam disaster – Casualties of the Westdene dam disaster, a bus accident that took place in Westdene, near Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1985.
Evelyn Mase – midwife nurse and former first wife of Nelson Mandela.
Jacob Matlala – "Baby Jake" (1962–2013) was a South African boxer and junior flyweight champion from Meadowlands, Johannesburg.
Joe Mafela – South African actor, writer, producer, director, singer, and businessman
Linda Mkhize – ProKid (1981–2018), better known by his stage name ProKid or PRO, was a South African rapper and producer.
John Nkadimeng – South African politician and anti-Apartheid activist
Ahmed Kathrada – freedom fighter, struggle icon, Parliamentary Councillor and adviser to President Nelson Mandela
George Bizos – Greek-South African human rights lawyer
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