Residents from seven La Mercy-area communities in South Africa have strongly objected to a proposed 33,800-grave memorial park and six-unit crematorium. The communities, including Desainagar, Seatides, La Mercy, Westbrook, Lungelani, Pholani and Thuthukani, expressed concerns about the development's impact on traffic, LPG safety, emissions and future investment. A public participation meeting convened by environmental assessment practitioners NFZ Environmentals was marred by delays and frustration, with residents questioning the adequacy of consultation.
The Coastal Joint Task Team (CJTT), a group formed by residents to oppose the development, challenged DA Ward 58 councillor Geoff Pullen over his handling of the proposed development. Residents shouted and booed Pullen as he attempted to address the gathering. The meeting eventually had to be called off. Anand Desai of the CJTT stated that the residents were strongly opposed to the cemetery and crematorium, and that the CJTT reports that not a single resident from the affected area supports the project.
The proposed development is located on former sugar-cane land opposite King Shaka International Airport, on the seaward side of the N2. The crematorium forms part of the second phase of the project, which is currently at the draft Environmental Impact Assessment Report stage. However, residents were shocked to discover that an earlier phase had already been approved. Desai said the communities would continue pursuing all lawful avenues to oppose the development.
Residents questioned why they had not been adequately consulted about the development, and why their elected representative had not convened community meetings to explain the proposal. Community representatives alleged that Pullen had known about the development since 2023 but had not held public meetings to inform affected residents. Michael Singh of the CJTT said they had been unaware of the proposal until recently, and that residents had canvassed the surrounding informal settlements and engaged community leaders to establish whether people knew about the project.
Singh questioned whether the consultation process for the first phase had adequately reached the communities most likely to be affected. He compared the proposed cemetery and crematorium to developments found in neighbouring coastal areas such as Umdloti and Ballito, and expressed concerns about the unequal approach to investment and infrastructure along the coastline. Singh asked how the area would attract tourism, commercial investment and residential development if a large cemetery and industrial-scale crematorium was built there.
Residents pointed to the area's proximity to schools, particularly Seatides Combined School and Crawford North Coast, as reasons they believe the development required rigorous scrutiny. Community representatives placed Seatides Combined School approximately 700 to 761 metres from the proposed site. They are demanding detailed assessments of potential emissions, cumulative air pollution, LPG safety, emergency response arrangements, traffic and the implications for future development.
Desiree Singh, a Desainagar resident, expressed concerns about LPG tankers travelling past her home, and questioned whether articulated vehicles carrying LPG could safely navigate the route. She raised concerns about the potential consequences of an accident involving a gas tanker, and warned that alternative routes could bring additional traffic past the school if the primary access road became unsuitable. Residents are demanding full disclosure of the project's ownership, operational responsibility, specialist assessments and approval records, as well as proper consideration of alternative sites and access routes.
Key points
- Residents oppose the proposed cemetery and crematorium due to concerns over consultation, traffic, LPG safety, emissions and impact on future investment.
