Avalon Cemetery
Avalon Cemetery is one of the largest graveyards in South Africa. It was opened in 1972, during the height of apartheid, as a graveyard exclusively for black people. The huge extension was officially opened on 9 February by Matshidiso Mfikoe, at the time a mayoral committee member for environment and corporate services. Before Avalon opened, Sowetans were buried in Nancefield (Klipspruit) Cemetery. That burial ground opened in 1912 but is now full except for second or third burials.
| Avalon Cemetery | |
|---|---|
Famous graves of members of the African National Congress during the apartheid-era | |
| Details | |
| Location | Soweto, Johannesburg |
| Country | South Africa |
| Coordinates | 26°17′47″S 27°51′44″E |
Just beyond the entrance, to the left, there are Memorials dedicated to struggle activists Lilian Ngoyi and Helen Joseph. During Women’s Month in August 2010, the graves of Ngoyi, Joseph and Maxeke were declared National Heritage Sites. (The cemetery has memorials to other heroes as well.)
To the North, near the Train Station, lies the Mendi Memorial. In the cemetery are the graves of Joe Slovo and Hector Pieterson.
The cemetery that inters people from Lenasia, Soweto and surrounding areas reached capacity on 21 October 2022.