At 172 hectares, Avalon is one of the largest cemeteries in South Africa, located in the south-western corner of Soweto, Region D. Avalon cemetery was established in 1972 during the height of apartheid as a graveyard exclusively for blacks. It is the second largest and one of the busiest cemeteries in Johannesburg. Each weekend, the cemetery saw more than 200 burials, as the space rapidly filled what was Johannesburg’s busiest cemetery.
Avalon holds the mortal remains of many heroes of the struggle against apartheid, including the general secretary of the South African Communist Party and former Umkhonto we Sizwe Chief of Staff, Joe Slovo, and the women’s struggle leaders, Lillian Ngoyi and Helen Joseph. During the 1976 uprising, the building holding all burial records for Nancefield, Soweto’s first cemetery, was burned, and all records were lost. With its loss, the history of many of Soweto’s first residents was erased.
Historical Significance
Avalon continues to play an important role, not only for Sowetans, but for all South Africans, as the country moved from an era of violent struggle to one of reconciliation. The graves of those who fought for justice continue to be a site of homage for many visitors. It was the world-famous photograph by Sam Nzima of Hector Pietersen, shot and dying in the arms of Mbuyisa Makhubo and his sister, Antoinette Sithole, that alerted the world to the atrocities of apartheid, and the shooting of children in the Soweto Uprising of 1976. Today, Hector Pietersen, along with student activist Tsietsi Mashinini, is buried in Avalon. Tsietsi Mashinini died abroad, and his body was brought back to be buried in Avalon in 1990. The words ‘Black Power’ are etched in his headstone.
Struggle Heroes
Just beyond the entrance, to the left, are memorials dedicated to struggle activists Lilian Ngoyi and Helen Joseph. Like other comrades of the struggle, Lilian Ngoyi, who was arrested and charged with high treason in the 1955 trials, was honored in Avalon with an ANC funeral after passing away on 13 March 1980. Ma-Ngoyi, as she was known, was the first President of the ANC Women’s League, and a leading member of the organisation’s National Executive Committee. Buried together in the Federation of South African Women. Helen Joseph was charged with Lilian Ngoyi in many trials and was banned and jailed for her support of the struggle. At their funerals in Avalon, singing was loud, and clenched-fist salutes were given. Lilian Ngoyi is known to have said, ‘If I die, I’ll die a happy person because I have already seen the rays of our new South African sun rising.’
Another struggle hero, Joe Slovo, was buried in the Heroes’ Acre at Avalon. At his funeral, he was honored by President Nelson Mandela with the words:
‘We have converged here to pay tribute, once again, to one who remained in the trenches and died with his boots on. We, who are gathered here, are beneficiaries of the freedom to which Joe dedicated his life. We are the relay team to whom he has handed his torch that he carried for so long. The race will continue until we have achieved a better life for all our people.’
Up to the present day, many more heroes, some well-known, others less so, are buried in Avalon. On 21 June 1997, the exhumed remains of three Umkhonto We Sizwe cadres from Soweto, Lesetja Joseph Sexwale, Anthony Sureboy Dali and Thabiso Rakobo, were reburied at the Heroes’ Acre. The location of their bodies was revealed by the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
As the country moved from an era of violent struggle to one of reconciliation, Avalon continues to play an important role, not only for the people of Soweto, but for all South Africans. The graves of those who fought for justice continue to be a site of homage for many visitors.
