‘You can't put a price on justice': McKenzie on reburials of ancestral remains and exile repatriation project
The government doesn't yet know how much it will cost to rebury the remains of Khoe and San ancestors or to bring home the remains of freedom fighters who died in exile, but minister of sport, arts and culture Gayton McKenzie says the cost doesn't matter.
'It can't cost enough because people gave their lives. You can't put a cost to a life,' McKenzie said during a media briefing on Monday.
McKenzie announced two major national projects: the reburial of 58 ancestral remains from the Khoe and San communities and the next phase of the Exile Repatriation Project, both backed by the government of national unity.
'These are not just projects — they are acts of justice, remembrance and healing.
'They affirm our government's commitment to restore dignity, promote cultural restoration and confront the painful legacy of apartheid. These initiatives are about re-humanisation. They are spiritual but, most importantly, they are necessary,' he said.
McKenzie said the 58 ancestral remains originating from the Northern Cape would be reburied in consultation with affected communities, including the Nama, Griqua, Korana, and San.
The process was being led by the Iziko Museums, the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) and a local task team.
'It is not just about returning the remains to the soil. It is about restoring dignity. It is about fulfilling cultural and spiritual obligations. It is about healing the deep wounds of dispossession and, most importantly, historical erasure,' he said.
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