Mayor Lucky Sele officially opened the new Westhaven Memorial Park in Mindalore on August 27.

The Krugersdorp News attended the opening, where Sele described it as an important step forward for the city and an investment in dignity, heritage and sustainability.

“We had to confront a difficult truth. The cemeteries at Kagiso and Sterkfontein, which have served us faithfully, were nearing their limits. The need for additional burial space was becoming urgent. Westhaven emerged as the solution, not by default, but by design. But beyond the question of space lay a more profound challenge, the very way cemeteries were being managed,” Sele said.

He added that traditionally, municipal responsibility extended only to allocating land, digging and filling graves and maintaining basic landscaping.

“Families were left to carry the responsibility of erecting and maintaining headstones and monuments. Over time, this model showed its weaknesses. Contractual terminations and equipment shortages meant that grounds maintenance was often inconsistent. Families found themselves in cemeteries that no longer reflected the dignity that the deceased deserved. It was safe to say, business as usual would not suffice, and so, we resolved to do things differently,” he continued.

However, Westhaven, he said, would no longer be referred to as a cemetery.

“From today, it is a memorial park, a place where order and dignity are standard, not optional,” he said.

Sele further explained in an interview that this cemetery is one of the first in the country, which is designed to utilise space, and the layout makes it easy to maintain and cut grass, whereas a conventional cemetery takes up a lot of space.

This cemetery will follow a uniform model, with headstones only, where Sele said it provides structure and coherence, ensures efficient land use, and allows the municipality to maintain the grounds sustainably.

Sele added that crucially, religious leaders gave strong support, affirming that the adoption of vertical headstones respects both cultural and spiritual values. A majority of residents agreed that this model would preserve dignity and improve maintenance.

He continued that the benefits of Westhaven are clear and far-reaching, where it includes:

• Alleviation of overcrowding
“By easing the burden on Kagiso and Sterkfontein, we ensure that residents will not face the indignity of insufficient burial space.”
• Enhanced burial dignity
“Structured layouts, uniform headstones, and maintained grounds will provide a setting where families can remember their loved ones with pride.”
• Sustainable land use
“By aligning with municipal planning and environmental objectives, Westhaven ensures that land is optimised responsibly, preserving space for future generations.”

He reiterated that this facility will be more than land and stone.

“It will be a place of remembrance. A place where families gather not in despair, but in honour of their loved ones. A place that reflects our shared humanity. As we open Westhaven, let us commit ourselves to protecting it, maintaining it, and respecting it as a shared heritage. Let it stand as proof that Mogale City honours its people – not only in life, but also in death.”

He finished by saying it is an achievement everyone can be proud of, and a legacy we must safeguard for generations to come.