Basil February's brother wishes repatriation of his remains happened while their parents were alive

CAPE TOWN - The brother of slain freedom fighter, Basil February, says he wishes the repatriation happened while their parents were alive.

February, who was an uMkhonto weSizwe operative died in combat after being exiled to Zimbabwe in 1967.

Fifty-seven years after he was shot dead by apartheid security forces in Bulawayo, February's remains were brought back to South Africa in September.

Terence February, the younger brother of Basil, said that the family could finally start healing.

However, after laying his brother to rest at the family's burial plot in Somerset West on Tuesday, February said he wished it happened sooner.

"The only regret that I have is that after all these years, I think it would've been so much better if this repatriation could have occurred while my mother and father were alive."

February said that while burying his brother, his thoughts were with their mother.

"My mother mourned Basil's death since 1967 until the day she died in 2004."

February said that although it felt surreal, burying his brother on home soil had brought the family relief.

Meanwhile, governance expert, Judith February, said that laying her cousin to rest had brought the family relief.

She said it was an emotional time for the family.

"It is a very important closing of 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."