Brixton Cemetery is more than a final resting place; it is a record of Johannesburg’s past.

Invasive vegetation, vandalism, and neglect, however, threaten the headstones and stories contained within it.

Read more: Brixton Cemetery trapped in costly clean-up cycle

On August 23, volunteers from the Friends of Johannesburg Cemeteries spent a day during women’s month cleaning graves of women, removing invasive plants, and clearing away vegetation that can damage historic headstones.

Sarah Welham, who runs the organisation, said Brixton Cemetery is home to pioneers of Johannesburg, people involved in historic strikes and miners who died in accidents. “It’s just another history book of Johannesburg, early Johannesburg.”

Also read: Volunteers step in after storm damage at Braamfontein Cemetery

The work is vital because unchecked vegetation can eventually cause headstones to fall, while grime and overgrowth can obscure inscriptions. Yet volunteers face challenges beyond the graves themselves. Welham said the cemetery needs a secure fence to help curb vandalism, dumping, and other damage, while donations are also needed to repair fallen headstones.

Volunteer Christine Jepson, who recently moved to Melville, joined the clean-up with her husband. She said she was surprised by how connected she felt to the person whose grave they cleaned. “I actually didn’t expect to feel as fulfilled and almost, like, connected to someone that I didn’t know, as I did.”

Jepson hopes Brixton Cemetery can become a place where families feel comfortable visiting their loved ones. “Someone needs to care. The more we all put into our community, the better our community gets.”

The message from the clean-up is: Preserving these graves means preserving Johannesburg’s stories — and that responsibility belongs to everyone.

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