After an R18 million upgrade, the Maitland Crematorium in Cape Town has unveiled a striking new look, as the City of Cape Town encourages cremation due to the rapid filling of cemeteries, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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According to the City, Maitland Crematorium, one of the busiest facilities in the Western Cape, serves a wide range of communities, extending its reach as far as Springbok and the West Coast District.
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The installation and successful commissioning of two new cremators, compliant with Air Emission Standards, marks a significant milestone for the facility.
The expanded cold room now boosts storage capacity during peak periods, ensuring efficient operation.
Other upgrades include a hydraulic coffin lift and a cutting-edge SCADA Electronic Logging System.
The system, linked to the cremators, records key data like emissions, coffin types, cremation times, temperatures, and gas usage, ensuring transparency and quality service.
Last year, the City recorded 5,830 cremations, down from 6,104 the previous year.
Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia Van der Ross attributes the slight decline in cremations to the upgrades and necessary repairs to one of the cremators, which temporarily impacted operations.
‘By investing in both cremation and burial services, the City is ensuring that we can offer dignified and respectful options for every resident, regardless of their preferences or cultural practices.’
‘It is however a reality that the availability of suitable land for in-ground burials remains in high demand, and so we encourage residents to consider cremation where it is not prohibited by culture or religion.’
The City’s cemeteries handled 13 777 in-ground burials, up slightly from 13 698 the previous year.
Public burials led with 6393, followed by 3697 monumental and 3687 berm burials. Additionally, niche walls, memorial trees, and benches are gaining popularity, reflecting a shift towards more personalised, space-conscious memorials.
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‘Ensuring that all burial needs are met with dignity and respect remains a core part of the City’s mission,’ added Councillor Van der Ross.
‘I also want to renew my call to communities at large to help us look after these spaces.’
‘Vandalism in our cemeteries remains an ongoing challenge, and it simply cannot be tolerated.’
‘The cost of continuous repair and replacement of damaged assets is unsustainable, so I appeal to communities to report any vandalism or theft so that those responsible can be dealt with.’
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Picture: City of Cape Town / X