George Municipality says they will no longer have space at their cemeteries in the next 24 months.
The municipality also caters for surrounding towns in the Southern Cape region.
The municipality said there were 200 deaths on average a month in the Southern Cape region, of which 120 are cremated. Its three cemeteries are Touwsrantein, Thembalethu and York Street.
The municipality is in the process of identifying suitable land for a new cemetery in the Southern Cape region and is working on alternative solutions for burials.
The South African Local Government Strategic Framework for Cemeteries says despite land scarcity and the availability of a range of alternatives, conventional burial is still the most common and preferred option.
George municipality spokesperson Athane Scholtz said: “The required land space of about 50-79 hectares, based on current burial trends, should be adequate for another 30-40 years. As suitable land is likely to be outside the current George urban edge, the municipality may be engaging with Eden District Municipality in this regard.”
The municipality is also investigating ways to lessen the impact on cemeteries, including financial subsidies or incentives for cremation instead of burials and the establishment of memory niche walls, she said.