South Africa has received the remains of 42 anti-apartheid activists who died in exile in Zambia and Zimbabwe over 30 years ago. The repatriation marks the beginning of a government initiative to bring back the remains of freedom fighters who fought against apartheid from abroad. This process aims to honor their contributions to the struggle that ended apartheid in 1994.
At a ceremony near Pretoria, Defence Minister Angie Motshekga emphasized plans to extend this effort to other countries where more than 1,000 activists perished, including Angola, Tanzania, Cuba, and Europe. Among the remains returned were those of PAC leader John Nyathi Pokela, who died in Harare in 1985 after years of imprisonment on Robben Island.
This effort represents a broader push to provide healing and closure to families and communities affected by the apartheid struggle.
