The remains of struggle stalwarts Moses Mauane Kotane and John Beaver (JB) Marks have been repatriated from Moscow. The remains of Moses Kotane was reburied at Pella on 14 March where President Jacob Zuma delivered an oration.
The remains of JB Marks was reburied in his hometown of Ventersdorp on 22 March. President Jacob Zuma delivered a eulogy.
A memorial service was held on Friday, 6 March at the Johannesburg City Hall where Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered a keynote address.
President Jacob Zuma on Sunday, 1 March 2015, joined the families of the struggle stalwarts, Moses Mauane Kotane and John Beaver (JB) Marks at the Reception Service of their mortal remains at the Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria.
The Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Nathi Mthethwa led a government delegation to the City of Moscow, Russia, to repatriate the mortal remains of the two struggle stalwarts. Both Kotane and Marks were pioneers of the liberation movement who died in exile and have been buried in the Novodevichy cemetery.
Following a request from the two families, President Jacob Zuma tasked the Department of Arts and Culture in February 2014 to lead and coordinate preparations to bring home the remains of the two stalwarts. The Department and its associated institutions, the National Heritage Council (NHC), South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) and Freedom Park, worked together to facilitate the repatriation process.
The President has declared a Special Official Funerals Category 1 for the late two late stalwarts. The President has also instructed that the National Flag fly at half-mast at every flag station in the country from 9 March until the evening of 22 March 2015.
The remains of the two struggle stalwarts will be reburied on 14 and 22 March 2015 in Pella and Ventersdorp, North West, respectively.
The story of Kotane and Marks
The story of Kotane, Marks and the generation they represent captures and reflects how courageous men and women stood up for moral principles in the face of our shameful history that was characterised by conflicted divisive colonial and racist past.
These two men, at a great personal cost to themselves and their families, chose to fight for freedom and democracy.
They were agents of the society that they wanted to see in their lifetime. Unfortunately, they both died in the 1970s just when the struggle reached a point of no return.
But they will always be remembered as heroes of our liberation struggle who were instruments of national unity, peace and bringing our diverse people together to build one human family in one country. This is what we celebrate about them! They fought for the freedom and democracy for all South Africans, irrespective of their race or background.
