Pretoria: As part of an initiative dedicated to remembrance, restorative justice, and the dignified return of South African ancestors, the government intends to rebury 58 indigenous Khoi and San ancestral remains in the Northern Cape. This effort reflects a broader commitment to addressing historical injustices and restoring cultural dignity.
According to South African Government News Agency, the process is being conducted in full consultation with the concerned communities. The initiative is led by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture’s implementing partners, including the Iziko South African Museum and the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA). Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie emphasized the historical context of this initiative, noting that for generations, the remains of South Africa’s first people were treated as objects, displayed in museums, and studied without consent.
The reburial process is guided by the Northern Cape Reburial Task Team, which represents indigenous communities. Minister McKenzie highlighted the importance of this initiative, stating that it is about restoring dignity and fulfilling cultural and spiritual obligations while healing the wounds of dispossession and historical erasure. Negotiations with international institutions, such as the Hunterian Museum at the University of Glasgow, are ongoing for the repatriation of additional Khoi and San remains.
In parallel, the government is advancing Phase 2 of the exile repatriation project, which focuses on identifying individuals who died in exile during the struggle for liberation. The project aims to repatriate the remains of these individuals, fulfilling a moral duty and national responsibility to honor those who sacrificed their lives for freedom. The initiative involves collaboration with regional governments, historians, and affected communities to ensure a respectful and culturally appropriate process.
This comprehensive approach to repatriation aligns with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 2020 commitment to exhuming and repatriating the remains of liberation struggle figures, as outlined in the National Policy on the Repatriation and Restitution of Human Remains and Heritage Objects. The policy, endorsed by the Cabinet in 2021, facilitates the allocation of necessary resources and the implementation of structured processes.
The exile repatriation project is led by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, in partnership with the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, and the Department of Defence and Military Veterans. Implemented by the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), the Missing Persons Task Team (MPTT), Freedom Park, and the National Heritage Council, the project underscores the government’s commitment to restoring dignity and promoting cultural restoration. The public is encouraged to participate by providing information that may aid in identifying individuals for repatriation. The repatriation form is available at https://www.sahris.org.za/form/sahra-form-human-remains-rro.