Six SA Freedom Fighters' Remains back on home soil
A joyful atmosphere filled Johannesburg City Hall as families, political party veterans and Gauteng government officials gathered to honour the country's freedom fighters who had died in exile, in a ceremony that forms part of the exile repatriation project.
The ceremony which took place on Friday oversaw the return of the remains of Vincent Khumalo, Clayton Tsele, Andrew Mashaba, Tsetlo Matshaba, Bennet Sibanyoni, and Venoon Moodley.
The six anti-apartheid fighters died in exile in Mozambique and Zimbabwe while fighting for freedom and democracy.
Draped in the South African flag, the six caskets were escorted by uMkhonto weSizwe liberation war veterans and ANC officials, marking a key part of South Africa's broader commitment to bringing home and burying former liberation fighters who died in exile with dignity.
The ceremony, facilitated by Social Development MEC Faith Mazibuko, was attended by high-ranking government officials who came to pay their respects.
The reburial of the six fallen heroes and heroines will occur at various times, with some expected to be laid to rest next year, following consultations with their families.
"We are here to honour the freedom fighters who paid the ultimate price for me and you to be free today and enjoy this freedom," Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero said.
The city's mayor also conveyed to the families that no amount of gratitude could ever adequately repay the sacrifice their loved ones made in securing the country's freedom and democracy.
"History has reserved a special chapter for these brave freedom fighters,"
Meanwhile, Gauteng MEC Economic Development and Finance MEC Lebogang Maile described the arrival of the six remains on the country's shores as a bittersweet moment, noting that they are not here to witness the freedom they fought for.
"It would have been ideal for all the fighters who sacrificed so much for a vision of a free, just and equal society to return home alive, to rejoin their families, and to contribute to the reconstruction of society," Maile added.
He said that the government's mission has been to recover, exhume, repatriate, and rebury the country's freedom fighters who died in exile while striving for the nation's freedom.
"It is uplifting to know that slowly, but surely, we are making headway in this painful exercise of bringing back home those of us who could not live to see the fruits of their selfless labour in the form of a democratic South Africa,"
Maile further explained that the project is part of the Exile Repatriation Programme, which is guided by the National Policy of Repatriation and Restitution of Human Remains and Heritage Objects of 2021.
The project is an integral part of the government’s commitment to provide closure for the families of the fallen heroes and heroines, honoring their sacrifices for the nation’s freedom as South Africa marks 30 years of democracy and liberation.
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