South Africa to receive remains of 49 liberation fighters

South Africa’s government will receive the remains of 49 liberation fighters who died in exile in Zimbabwe and Zambia this week. Led by Sports Minister Gayton Mackenzie and Defence Minister Angie Motshekga, the remains will arrive at Waterkloof Air Force Base, followed by a homecoming ceremony at Freedom Park. SA’s government says this initiative honours their sacrifices and underscores the nation’s commitment to remembering its liberation heroes.

The Exile Repatriation Program is governed by the National Policy on Repatriation and Restitution of Human Remains and Heritage Objects of 2021. This policy reflects South Africa’s commitment to bringing back former liberation fighters who died in exile and ensuring they are laid to rest with respect and honor.

The repatriation is carried out in collaboration with regional governments, historians, and local communities to ensure a dignified and well-coordinated process.

The South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) oversees the protection and management of all sites linked to South Africa’s liberation struggle and anti-colonial resistance, under the National Heritage Resources Act No 25 of 1999.

Apartheid, which lasted from 1948 to 1994 in South Africa, was a racial segregation system imposed by the all-white government. It forced the non-white majority to live in designated areas, use segregated public services, and restricted their interaction with the white population. Those who resisted the regime, known as liberation fighters, faced harsh repression, leading many to flee into exile in other African nations to avoid persecution during the Apartheid period.