A follow up visit to Braamfontein Cemetery, nearly seven weeks after a destructive storm on February 2, has revealed visible progress in clearing fallen trees and debris.
However, concerns were raised on the effectiveness of the operation. While some smaller branches had been gathered into piles, large trunks and heavy limbs still lay where they fell, blocking access and covering burial sites.

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Friends of Johannesburg Cemeteries (FOJC) visited the cemetery on March 26 to gauge progress, to which Sarah Welham expressed her disappointment, arguing the work appeared poorly supervised and uneven. “It is too random. I do not know how they are going to get the big logs out. It seems like the work is very haphazard, and not co-ordinated efficiently.”

She added that the scattered approach suggested a lack of planning, with small teams working in isolation. Without clear oversight, she believed the operation risked becoming more hazardous and less efficient over time.

Antoinette Morgan said dense ground cover and piles of branches were making it difficult to inspect graves properly. “We cannot get through to see where there are broken headstones.” She noted that some damage was already visible, while more could remain hidden beneath debris. She also questioned why debris had been stacked between graves, instead of along nearby access roads, where removal trucks could reach it more easily.

Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) spokesperson Jenny Moodley stated that an intensive operational blitz at the cemetery had been done since last week, addressing storm-related damage in a structured and sensitive manner, to minimise disturbances to graves and heritage features. Moodley added that a comprehensive report outlining the extent of the damage, work completed, and next steps will be finalised and shared before proceeding to Brixton Cemetery. “We will also do a full inspection of graves and headstones, including those in Section Gen2B on the debris has been removed. This allows for access, and an accurate and respectful assessment of any potential impact on burial sites that may currently be obstructed.”

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JCPZ acknowledges that headstones hold deep sentimental value for families, and every effort is made to ensure that any damage is carefully recorded and addressed. “We work closely with key heritage stakeholders to ensure the protection of unmarked graves and historically significant burial sites. FOJC plays an important role in identifying unmarked and heritage graves, working closely with City of Johannesburg’s arts and culture department, which is responsible for the identification, preservation, and management of heritage resources.”

Cemetery management, together with facilities management at JCPZ, will conduct a detailed inspection and develop an action plan where required, with particular care given to areas of historical importance, including the gravesite of Enoch Sontonga.

JCPZ remains mindful of the emotional importance of these memorials and strives to ensure that all operational activities are conducted with sensitivity and compassion.

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