Gauteng govt to hand over remains of freedom fighters who died in exile to families

JOHANNESBURG - The Gauteng government is set to officially hand over the remains of freedom fighters who died in exile to their families.  

They are part of 42 former liberation heroes whose remains were repatriated from Zimbabwe and Zambia in September.  

Their remains were kept at the One Military Hospital in Pretoria for tests before being handed over to their families.  

In September, the government launched the first phase of its exile repatriation programme, which saw the return of the remains of several liberation heroes.  

Among those whose remains were repatriated from their countries of exile were the African National Congress (ANC)'s former secretary-general Duma Nokwe and former Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) leader Edwin Makoti.  

The Gauteng government will receive the remains of those whose families are based in the province and will officially hand them over to their families on Friday. 

The families are now expected to begin preparations for the reburial of their loved ones, along with other traditional rituals.  

The handing-over ceremony will take place at Johannesburg City Hall on Friday morning.