Johannesburg – The remains of 42 anti-apartheid activists who died in exile in Zambia and Zimbabwe more than 30 years ago were returned to South Africa on Wednesday, kicking off a government drive to bring freedom fighters home.
The South African government says it wants to repatriate the remains of activists who fought white minority rule from abroad to honour their part in the struggle that led to the end of apartheid in 1994.
More than 1,000 anti-apartheid activists died in exile in countries in Africa, for example in Angola and Tanzania, but also in Cuba and Europe, Obed Bapela, an international relations officer for the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party told the eNCA broadcaster.
“There are plans to also repatriate from other parts of the continent,” South African Defence Minster Angie Motshekga said at a ceremony at a military base near Pretoria to welcome the remains.
The remains of 49 freedom fighters who died in exile in Zimbabwe and Zambia have arrived back in South Africa. #DStv403 pic.twitter.com/HNouLWzFDQ
— eNCA (@eNCA) September 25, 2024
The remains had been handed over to South African officials in Harare and Lusaka earlier in the day.
The exile of South African anti-apartheid fighters was accelerated by the apartheid government’s banning in 1960 of parties including the ANC and Pan Africanist Congress (PAC).
This week, the South African government said that Wednesday’s repatriations from neighbouring Zimbabwe and Zambia were the launch of a process to speed up the return of liberation fighters through a “country-to-country model”.
[WATCH] Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga explains what will happen next to the mortal remains of the 49 liberation fighters who passed away in exile in Zimbabwe and Zambia ahead of the official homecoming ceremony on Friday.#Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/ZHOGUTPztv
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) September 25, 2024
In the past repatriations were on an individual basis, usually at the request of families, it said.
The remains returned from Zimbabwe Wednesday included those of PAC leader John Nyathi Pokela who was given a state funeral in that country following his death in Harare in 1985.
Today, PAC President Mzwanele Nyhontso, as the Minister of Land Reform & Rural Development, officially accepted the remains of our Fallen Heroes and Heroines in Zimbabwe. This historic Repatriation project will bring long-awaited closure to families who lost loved ones during the… pic.twitter.com/A9j60USKjD
— Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) (@MyPAConline) September 25, 2024
Pokela was among the ANC leaders who broke away in 1959 to create the PAC. He spent 13 years in jail on Robben Island – the prison off Cape Town that held anti-apartheid leaders including Nelson Mandela – and went into exile on his release.
South Africa’s rural development and land reform minister Mzwanele Nyhontso said at the handover in Harare that the repatriations were a significant step towards bringing healing and closure.
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Picture: X/@MyPAConline
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
