Historic Repatriation of Khoi and San Ancestral Remains Culminates in Dignified Reburial Ceremony at Northern Cape Kinderlê Monument

President Ramaphosa leads the historic reburial of 63 Khoi and San ancestors in Steinkopf, ending a century of colonial displacement in European museums.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 24, 2026, 9:42 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from CapeTalk

A Century of Displacement Ends in Steinkopf

The repatriation and reburial of 63 Khoi and San ancestors in the Northern Cape marks the conclusion of a painful odyssey that spanned over a hundred years. These individuals, whose remains were removed without consent during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, were finally laid to rest at the Kinderlê Monument in Steinkopf. President Cyril Ramaphosa, officiating the ceremony, characterized the event as a necessary step in addressing a profound historical injustice. By returning these ancestors to their home soil, the South African government seeks to provide closure to communities that have long endured the symbolic and physical erasure of their heritage under colonial rule.

The Dark Legacy of Colonial Scientific Exploitation

Between 1868 and 1924, a period defined by aggressive colonial expansion, the remains of indigenous people were systematically looted from burial sites across South Africa. Colonial researchers targeted these graves to provide specimens for what was then termed "scientific study," often trading or donating the remains to prominent European museums and universities. This practice not only disturbed the sanctity of the deceased but also functioned as a tool of dehumanization, stripping the Khoi and San people of their right to a proper burial. The recent reburial serves as a formal rejection of this exploitative history, acknowledging that these individuals were never mere biological samples but people with families, histories, and spiritual significance.

Collaborative Restitution and Community Leadership

The process of bringing these ancestors home was driven by a multi-institutional effort involving the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, the South African Heritage Resources Agency, and Iziko Museums. Annelize Kotze, a social history curator at Iziko Museums, emphasized that the project was intentionally structured to ensure that indigenous communities remained the primary decision-makers. Rather than the museum dictating the terms of restitution, representatives from the Khoi, San, and Griqua communities guided every phase of the journey. This collaborative approach ensured that the reburial adhered to traditional customs and reflected the specific spiritual needs of the descendants, shifting the power dynamic from institutional control to community agency.