Freedom Fighters | Nelson Mandela and Winnie Mandela leading a march
By Thabo Mosia
The South African government is set to receive the remains of several freedom fighters who died in exile in Zambia and Zimbabwe. A significant repatriation ceremony will take place on 27 September 2024 at the Waterkloof Airforce Base in Pretoria. This event marks the culmination of efforts to bring back the remains of South African freedom fighters who made critical contributions to the anti-apartheid movement but perished while in exile.
Among the individuals whose remains will be repatriated are notable figures such as Advocate Duma Nokwe, Florence Mophosho, and Basil February. Their return forms part of the broader Resistance and Liberation Heritage Route Project (RLHR), which seeks to commemorate and preserve South Africa’s path to freedom. This project is a national memory initiative aimed at honoring the sacrifices made by many during the country’s struggle for liberation, ensuring their contributions are remembered and respected for future generations.
The repatriation process is also a direct response to commitments made by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his 2020 January 8th Statement and his subsequent State of the Nation Address (SONA), where he emphasized the need to honor liberation stalwarts by returning their remains to South Africa for proper reburial. The ceremony will not only involve the formal return of the remains but will also include a “homecoming” at the Freedom Park Heritage Site and Museum, further symbolizing the final journey of these heroes back to their homeland .
The repatriation of these struggle stalwarts also brings into focus the larger effort to retrieve the remains of over 50 apartheid-era activists who died abroad, many of whom were key figures in the fight against racial oppression in South Africa. This initiative is part of a broader governmental programme, approved several years ago, aimed at repatriating the remains of those who perished in exile .
In addition to this, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has played a pivotal role in the exhumation process, working closely with international teams to locate and retrieve the remains of these individuals, which have been long buried in Zimbabwe and Zambia. The project is ongoing, with more remains expected to be returned in the future, continuing efforts to provide closure for the families and the nation .
The homecoming ceremony coincides with South Africa’s Heritage Month, celebrated under the theme “Celebrating the Lives of Our Heroes and Heroines Who Laid Down Their Lives for Our Freedom,” paying tribute to the individuals whose contributions laid the foundation for the freedoms enjoyed today .
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