Slain SA freedom fighter Basil February buried 'with his citizenship restored': Family

CAPE TOWN - Governance expert, Judith February has spoken about what it means to finally lay her cousin, slain freedom fighter, Basil February, to rest.

Fifty-seven years after he was shot dead by apartheid security forces in Zimbabwe, Basil's family buried his remains in Somerset West on Tuesday.

Basil's body was buried in an unmarked grave in Bulawayo after he was killed in combat in 1967.

Judith said it had been an emotional month for the family since Basil’s remains were returned to South Africa.

"It is a very important closing the circle for our family because as President Ramaphosa said, this person who left South Africa as a pariah, he returns with his citizenship restored."

Judith says the repatriation of 49 deceased struggle heroes is an important marker in post-apartheid South Africa.