Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) is urging families to visit the graves of their loved ones this rainy season.

According to JCPZ spokesperson Jenny Moodley, the inclement weather may cause gravesites to cave in, collapse or require the reinstating of headstones.

Moodley also acknowledged the growing concerns regarding the level of respect afforded to burial grounds.

Moodley said out of the City’s 42 cemeteries, 37 have reached full capacity and are inactive.

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“This places enormous pressure on the remaining few active cemeteries, underscoring the need for sustainable solutions such as second interments – where a loved one is buried in the same grave as a spouse, parent, grandparent, or sibling.

“This practice helps preserve valuable land but also helps revive dormant, largely unused, and rarely visited cemeteries; hence, the increased activity helps deter vandalism, and allows families to create a central shrine for remembrance,” she said, adding that among the challenges they continue to face are vandalism, illegal dumping and crime.

“More disturbingly, there have been reports of mourners consuming alcohol and urinating near gravesites, actions that are deeply disrespectful to both the deceased and their families. We strongly appeal to residents to refrain from such behaviour and to treat these spaces with reverence.”

All Saints Day in November

As All Saints Day approaches on November 1, JCPZ is encouraging families to visit their loved ones’ gravesites, clear weeds, reinstate headstones, and restore neglected memorials. By doing so, families can honour their heritage and help reclaim cemeteries as sacred spaces.

All Saints Day is celebrated globally and is a tradition rooted in honouring the departed. Its vigil, All Hallows’ Eve, has over time evolved into the modern celebration of Halloween, but its origins remain a reminder of the importance of remembering and respecting those who have passed on.