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A few of the 33 cemeteries under the control of the Johannesburg City Parks are important heritage sites.
Braamfontein Cemetery
Within the Braamfontein Cemetery located on the corner of Graaff and Smit Streets, stands the Dynamite Explosion Monument, the granite memorial dating from 1896. It was erected in memory of 71 white and coloured persons who died in an explosion at Braamfontein Station on 19 February 1896. The cemetery also houses the memorial of Enoch Mankayi Sontonga (the composer of our National Anthem, “Nkosi Sikelel´ iAfrica” who passed away in 1905 at the age of 32 years). Early martyrs of Mahatma Gandhi’s Passive Resistance Movement Valliammai and Nagappen are also buried here.
Brixton Cemetery
The Brixton Cemetery located in Crouse Street, Caroline extension and Brixton Drive, Brixton is of historical significance. Near the main entrance a war monument commemorates South Africans who died in the First World War. Along Main Drive there is a second First World War monument in memory of the South African Scottish Regiment.
Westpark Cemetery
In the Westpark Cemetery located along Beyers Naude Drive, there are graves of the following high profile persons:
- Alfred Nzo: Former ANC struggle veteran and first Minister of Foreign Affairs of democratic South Africa.
- Joe Modise: The former Umkhonto we Sizwe commander, the first Minister of Defence in post-apartheid South Africa and an African National Congress veteran.
- Nkosi Johnson: a young boy who featured prominently in the campaign against HIV/Aids.
Newclare Cemetery
The Newclare Cemetery is of heritage significance in that it houses Walter Sisulu Memorial Park, developed in memory of the former veteran leader of the African National Congress, and mentor of Nelson “Madiba” Mandela.
Avalon Cemetery
Avalon is the final resting place of many prominent persons and heroes of the Liberation struggle, amongst whom the most well known are Joe Slovo, Helen Joseph, Lilian Ngoyi of the ANC; Zephania Mothopeng, the fiery leader of the Pan African Congress is also buried here. The graves of Tsietsi Mashinini, one of the heroes of the 1976 uprisings, and Hector Peterson, the first victim of the 1976 uprising, are to be found at Avalon. A memorial to the victims of the 1976 uprisings has been erected here. The Mendi Memorial, built in memory of the soldiers who died with the sinking of the ship Mendi in February 1917 is also found in Avalon.
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Cemeteries