Parks & Recreation Division

 

The purpose of the Parks & Recreation Division is to beautify the City through the provision of professional horticultural services, establishing and maintaining unique parks, cemeteries, sports, and recreational facilities to meet the needs of the growing Windhoek population and ensure neat, safe, and secure public open spaces through effective bush control services.

 

Sports and Recreation facilities

 

The Division manages the following Sports and Recreation facilities

 

• • Sam Nujoma Soccer Stadium

 

• • The Khomasdal Sport Fields

 

• • John yaOtto Nankudhu Soccer Field

 

• • Katutura and Olympia Swimming Pools

 

• • Brakwater Recreational Park

 

• • Goreangab Recreational Park

 

• • Playgrounds in the City

 

• • The Zoo Park

 

• • UN Plaza

 

• • Tugela Family Park

 

 

Cemeteries

 

The division operates seven cemeteries, namely:

 

• • Gammams Cemetery located at the Corner of Goshawk Street & David Hosea Meroro Road

 

• • Oponganda Cemetery located at the Corner of Brug Street and Otjomuise Road (061 – 290 2978/ 2979

 

• • Khomasdal Cemetery located at the Corner of Begonia Street and Roos Street

 

• • Old Location Cemetery located at David Hosea Meroro Road

 

• • Katutura Cemetery located at Claudius Kandovazu Street Leutwein Cemetery located at Robert Mugabe Avenue (061 – 290 3540)

 

• • Veronica Cemetery located at Veronica Street (061 – 290 3540)

 

 

The following cemeteries are no longer operational as they have reached the full capacity, but are still maintained by the City of Windhoek.

 

• • Gammams/ Pioneerspark Cemetery (061 – 290 3540/3555)

 

• • Khomasdal Cemetery (061 290 2758)

 

• • Old Location Cemetery

 

• • Oponganda Cemetery

 

The Windhoek Crematorium

 

Namibia’s sole crematorium is located within the Gammams/Pioneerspark Cemetery. Established in 1975, it conducted its inaugural cremation on April 26, 1976. Cremation is regarded as a financially prudent alternative to traditional burials and allows for more efficient use of valuable land.

 

Prior to conducting a cremation, several documents must be completed and authorized in accordance with the Regulations relating to Crematoria and the Cremation of Human Remains (Government Notice no.91 of March 26, 1999). Undertakers typically manage these formalities, a process that may take a few days.

 

It is important to emphasize that each body undergoes individual cremation, adhering strictly to the Crematorium Code of Conduct, a standard upheld by our crematorium staff. Optimal operational efficiency is achieved when the cremator’s internal brickwork and concrete have absorbed enough heat to sustain the burning process whilst adding as little fuel as possible. Therefore, it is cost-effective to conduct cremations sequentially, accommodating four to five individual bodies.

 

A unique cremation number is assigned and inscribed on a metal strip affixed to the coffin before placement into the cremator. This strip ensures the identity of the deceased is preserved throughout the process and facilitates accurate record-keeping in the Cremation Register.

 

Following cremation, the disposition of ashes is at the discretion of the next of kin. They may choose to scatter the ashes at a preferred location or within the Garden of Remembrance, inter them in a niche within the Columbarium/Wall of Remembrance at the Gardens of Remembrance, place them in an existing family grave, or inter them in a dedicated ash grave.

 

For any inquiries, individuals may contact the Cremation Officer at 061 – 290 3092.

 

The Children’s Memorial

 

The Windhoek Children’s Memorial was inaugurated on 17 April 2013, by then Windhoek Mayor, Cllr Agnes Kafula. This memorial serves as a poignant tribute to all children who have passed away, regardless of age or circumstance, including those who may pass in the future. It provides a place of solace and reflection for grieving parents, families, and friends, assuring them they are not alone in their sorrow but are part of a community of parents who share similar losses. The memorial stands as a symbol ensuring that the memory of our children endures.

 

Located within the Garden of Remembrance at the Gammams/Pioneerspark Cemetery, the Children’s Memorial was generously donated to the City of Windhoek by Mr. G.M. Du Toit and Mrs. I. E. du Toit. Their contribution was in loving memory of their son, Mauritz du Toit, who passed away at the age of 17 on March 8, 2010.

 

The design of the Children’s Memorial is circular, symbolizing unity and infinity, reflecting a community united by the common experience of losing a beloved child or children. Plates affixed to the inner walls bear the names of departed children along with their birth and departure dates.

 

Annually, the City of Windhoek’s Parks Division invites parents from across the country to submit names of their departed children between 0 to 18 years old to be added to the Children’s Memorial, ensuring that it continues to honor and remember all precious young lives lost.