The leaders are currently in consultation with these communities to map a process to ensure the forefathers who were illegally buried are brought back and reburied with dignity they deserve.

Community leaders say some people were buried around the province, while some were buried in Cape Town and at the Hunterian museum in Glasgow, Scotland. They believe their forefathers were illegally exhumed and taken to universities by scientists to conduct researchers on them over a century ago.

DNA tests were conducted on the remains, but with inconclusive results, all the tribes will be afforded cultural rights at the reburial. Project Leader, James Maphanga says the exhumation and reburying of the remains is critical.

 "More than hundred years ago these people were illegally exhumed in the area from the Regtersveld area, up throughout the Northern Cape up through the Hopetown area. In the Kalahari too, were exhumed from Witbank and three, but most of the 58 was in the Namakwa area, south of Steinkof and purpose of the reburial processes is to bring healing and to reconcile and put our forefathers underground,” Maphanga said.

Other leaders of the Khoi and San communities believe the reburials will showcase the existence of history and existence of the Khoi and San people in the country. Griqua Leader, Barend Van Wyk says these communities are not yet recognized in the country.

“The underlying factor of the reburial of the remains showcase the fact and the intensity of the existence of the Khoi and the San communities within SA. Many a time, people think we are extinct but we are not extinct we are endangered but not extinct,” Van Wyk said.

Petrus Vaalbooi is the Khomani San Leader and says they view the exhumation and reburials as a victory.

“In my heart I can say I am happy very happy the time is over the earth in heaven and heaven is from the fathers I can see the victory in history we have win that struggle to find our people's bones back,” Vaalbooi said.

The organisers of this processes say they want to conduct the burial ceremony by September which is a Heritage month.

--SABC--