| Westpark Cemetery | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Details | |
| Established | 1942 |
| Location | Beyers Naude Drive, Montgomery Park, Johannesburg, Gauteng |
| Coordinates | 26°9′49″S 27°59′23″E / 26.16361°S 27.98972°E |
| Owned by | Johannesburg City Parks |
| Website | jhbcityparks.com |
| Find a Grave | Westpark Cemetery |
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.
- ^ "Holocaust Memorial in West Park Cemetery: Johannesburg". Blogging while allatsea. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
- ^ "Johannesburg City Parks". Retrieved 24 February 2013.