‘Goverment plans to repatriate more exiled freedom fighters’ remains’

Defence Minister Angie Motshekga says the government has planned to repatriate more remains of freedom fighters who died in exile.

The remains of some who died in Zambia and Zimbabwe have been successfully repatriated on Wednesday. However, Minister Motshekga says the process is lengthy and complex.

She says this momentous occasion is remarkable for the African National Congress (ANC) and the  Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) as most of their freedom fighters died in exile.

She says some graves may not be found in those countries.

“I recently went to Angola with the President. So, we may not be able to get some of the graves … to assist the families to get closure.”

The Department of Defence and Military Veterans says for the country to move forward and redress the past, it was important for the South African government to repatriate the remains of freedom fighters from other countries.

Spokesperson Onicca Kwakwa says more remains are expected to be brought back home in the next three years from countries like Angola, Lesotho and again from Zimbabwe and Zambia.

“It is indeed a historic day not only for the families but us as South Africans. We owe it to the families who are going to receive today our lives because they have given up everything to liberate us and indeed this project has taken a long as there were other complex issues we needed to deal with with countries. And we are receiving 49 remains from Zimbabwe and Zambia but we are expected in the next three years to repatriate more of the heroes and heroines.”

The remains of over 40 liberation fighters who have returned home include Advocate Duma Nokwe – former ANC Secretary General who died in Zambia in 1978, Edwin Letsholo Makoti – former PAC leader who passed away in Zimbabwe in the 80s, Vernon Moodley – son of activist Mary Moodley and renowned journalist Todd Matshikiza among others.

Mixed feelings

There were mixed feelings for the families of the bereaved at the Waterkloof Air Force Base.

Some of them last saw their family members more than three decades ago.

Some members of the families the SABC spoke to felt a sense of gratitude to the South African government.

Family member welcomes repatriation of the remains of liberation fighters back to SA:

Cultural significance

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.

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. These are very spiritually sensitive and powerful cultural rituals that have got to be taken. Therefore it makes it even worse than 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.”