Cultural analyst applauds govt for repatriation of fallen heroes

Cultural analyst, Pitika Ntuli, has applauded the South African government for its efforts to ensure the repatriation of the remains of fallen heroes and heroines who died in other African countries.

Government will tomorrow receive the remains of former struggle stalwarts from Zimbabwe and Zambia at the Waterkloof Airforce Base in Pretoria.

This is part of a broader repatriation and restitution programme.

Ntuli highlights the cultural significance of burying the struggle stalwarts’ remains in their country of birth.

“When you die far away, there are particular trees whose branches are to be taken to fetch your spirit where you are, whether you die in Johannesburg, you are from Welkom. This are very spiritually sensitive and powerful cultural rituals that have got to be taken.”

“Therefore, it makes it even worse then when people die away from the country having died fighting for that country. It becomes, therefore, very important that the government is actually doing these things,” explains Ntuli.

Below is the full interview with Pitika Ntuli