The initiative focuses on those who died in neighbouring Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries during the apartheid era.

Addressing the media in Pretoria, McKenzie said the initiative is more than a government project; it is a moral obligation and a matter of national dignity.

“Thousands of our people left SA during the struggle. Many never returned. Some were buried in foreign lands, in unmarked graves, their families left without closure,” McKenzie said.

The repatriation programme, he explained, is aimed at correcting the deep injustices of the past and bringing long-overdue healing to families and communities.

“This isn’t about doing anyone a favour,” he said. “It’s about fulfilling our responsibility to those who gave everything for our freedom. We owe their families a debt we can never fully repay.”

He urged relatives of those who perished in exile to come forward and be part of the process. The department is expected to work alongside families, regional authorities, and heritage institutions to trace, identify, and return the remains of those buried outside the country.

While the focus will initially be on SADC countries, McKenzie noted that the broader vision includes all regions where SA exiles may have been laid to rest.

“This is about restoring dignity, not only to those who died, but to the generations that carry their names,” he said.

--ChannelAfrica--