The remains of 42 South African freedom fighters who died in exile in Zimbabwe and Zambia during the fight against white minority rule arrived in South Africa on Wednesday, according to officials.
The remains were received by government officials and family members at Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria, after being exhumed for reburial in their homeland.
This repatriation is part of a government initiative aimed at providing closure to the families of those who died while serving in the underground movements of the African National Congress (ANC) and Pan Africanist Congress (PAC).
Before the apartheid system was dismantled in 1994, many activists left South Africa to receive military training abroad with the intent of returning to wage an armed struggle.
Others fled to avoid arrest by the apartheid regime due to their involvement in anti-apartheid activities, finding refuge in Zimbabwe and Zambia, where underground networks were strongest.
After its banning in South Africa, the ANC, led by Nelson Mandela, relocated its headquarters to Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. Many activists died in exile and were buried in these countries.
Among the remains returned on Wednesday were those of freedom fighters Duma Nokwe, Florence Mophosho, and Basil February.
Speaking at a Heritage Day event on Tuesday, South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile emphasized that the repatriation was part of a broader effort to educate future generations on the sacrifices made during the anti-apartheid struggle.
“As a national memory project, this initiative seeks to commemorate, celebrate, educate, and preserve the legacy of South Africa’s journey to freedom,” Mashatile stated.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is scheduled to preside over a homecoming ceremony on Friday, after which the remains will be handed over to families for reburial across the country.
The government also announced on Wednesday that efforts are underway to repatriate the remains of other South African exiles from Lesotho, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Angola, Russia, and additional countries.
