South Africa returns ancestral remains to Namibia

NNA News

South Africa on Wednesday formally repatriated the remains of two Namibians who died in custody on Robben Island during apartheid. The handover at the Iziko South African Museum in Cape Town also included six ancestral remains, grave goods and body casts. Officials from both countries described the ceremony as a step towards restorative justice.

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture hosted the event with representatives of the Namibian government. In a statement released that evening, the department said the handover was part of efforts to confront the legacy of colonialism and apartheid in Southern Africa. Minister Gayton McKenzie said the return addressed a wrong that had persisted for decades.“For too many years, the remains of our freedom fighters and ancestors were kept far from the land they called home. This was an injustice to them, their families and their communities,” he added.

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The remains represent several Namibian communities. According to McKenzie, they include ancestors from the Ovambo, Himba, San, Nama, Damara and Herero peoples. The department said the repatriation was also meant to restore dignity to communities whose heritage was disrupted by colonial rule. It added that the items hold cultural, spiritual and historical importance for Namibians. “This is not simply the return of human remains. It is an act of restorative justice, dignity and healing, allowing families and communities to honour their ancestors on their soil,” McKenzie said.

Minister Gayton McKenzie and Members of the Namibian delegation and community representatives take part in the repatriation process. Photo Credit: Ministry of Information and Communication Technology of Namibia.

McKenzie also spoke about the shared history of the two countries. Both endured colonial rule and apartheid-era repression. That history, he said, brings with it a shared responsibility. “South Africa stands with Namibia as a sister nation, bound by a shared history of struggle, sacrifice and liberation. We have a shared responsibility to confront the painful legacy of our past and advance healing and justice,” McKenzie said.

Officials said that for families separated from their ancestors for generations, the handover offered a measure of closure. “The return of ancestral remains holds deep meaning for descendants and Indigenous communities who were displaced and denied the right to mourn during apartheid,” the department said. The repatriation also forms part of broader efforts to strengthen cultural ties and advance restitution between South Africa and Namibia.

The department said it would continue to pursue repatriation as a tool for restorative justice, nation-building and social cohesion. “We cannot change the past, but we can correct its injustices. We choose justice, we choose dignity, and we choose to honour those who came before us by ensuring that their memory and sacrifice are never forgotten,” McKenzie said.