On March 23, 2026, South Africa reburied the ancestral remains of 63 Khoi and San people near Steinkopf in the Northern Cape. Khoi and San descendant communities and the South African government took part in the event. This reburial of Khoi San ancestral remains restores dignity after colonial-era removals and supports healing amid ongoing restitution efforts, according to SAnews.gov.za.
The remains were taken from their homeland between 1868 and 1924 without consent. Colonial Europeans used them for race-based scientific research. Last year, they returned from the University of Glasgow’s Hunterian Museum in Scotland.
Iziko Museums in Cape Town first received the remains after repatriation. The Western Cape government then handed them to the Northern Cape government. The group traveled via the N7 road.
The ceremony happened at the Kinderlê-monument outside Steinkopf. Traditional spiritual rites and a night vigil took place the day before. The remains now rest in individual graves on hallowed ground, a site already used for burials from clan wars and other conflicts.
President Cyril Ramaphosa attended and spoke at the event.
The return of our ancestors to their descendant communities is a vital act of restoration and restitution that goes beyond acknowledging the colonial legacy; it is also a manifestation of ubuntu – a recognition of our common humanity.
— President Cyril Ramaphosa, via SAnews.gov.za
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, along with the South African Heritage Resources Agency and Iziko Museums, helped with the repatriation and reburial.
These removals happened without consent for race-based science. The remains stayed in Scotland for decades. This context shows a long history of disrespect.
After repatriation, the remains went from Scotland to Cape Town. They then moved north to the Northern Cape.
Chairman of the National Griqua Council Barend van Wyk spoke of the pain.
Emotionally, it’s hard. The fact that they dug up our ancestors’ remains…why did they do that to human beings? Were our people not worthy of being human that they had to be dug up?
— Barend van Wyk, via SAnews.gov.za
Dionne Barley, a direct descendant, shared her feelings.
I feel very happy as somebody that is closely related to some of these people that are buried here. I feel good that they are now being buried in dignity [and] that they are not sitting in museums.
— Dionne Barley, via SAnews.gov.za
Ouma Katrina Esau, the last fluent speaker of the N|uu language, attended despite illness.
SAHRA Chairperson Elodie Seotseng Tlhoaele stressed respect.
Today, we are seeing the culmination of a process that sought to restore the human dignity of ancestors that were taken away from this land…exhumed from their graves and taken to foreign lands for scientific…academic research.
— Elodie Seotseng Tlhoaele, via SAnews.gov.za
This event restores human dignity to the remains. It shows ubuntu, or shared humanity. It addresses colonial erasures that often went unacknowledged.
The site holds meaning as a heritage and burial ground. Individual graves differ from past mass burials under colonial rule.
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture led the effort through SAHRA and Iziko Museums.
Key implications include:
- Cultural healing for Khoi and San communities through dignified reburial.
- A precedent for future repatriations from foreign institutions.
- Government action on restitution, separate from past European apologies.
- Recognition of ubuntu in national policy and ceremonies.
President Ramaphosa highlighted the National Policy on Repatriation and Restitution of Human Remains and Heritage Objects. This policy guides ongoing work.
The government plans partnerships worldwide to recover more remains taken illegally from South Africa.
SAnews.gov.za covered plans for the ceremony ahead of time. These steps show stated government intentions for the near term.
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