Remarks by the Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Rejoice
Mabudafhasi at the occasion of the symbolic release of the human remains from
the Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape, the University of Pretoria
29 October 2007
Programme Director
Honourable MECs
Your Worship, Acting Executive Mayor of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality
Vice Chancellors and Principals of Universities
CEOs of Public Entities
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
This historic occasion represents a major breakthrough in our efforts to
facilitate the repatriation and reburial of all human remains from the
Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape. Our democratic government acknowledges that
respect and responsibility towards human remains is a universal norm. We
further acknowledge and support the indigenous people's wish and desire to have
the remains of their ancestors repatriated and reburied at their places of
origin.
The representatives of the descendants of the Mapungubwe people have been
requesting the repatriation and reburial of the remains of their ancestors
since the dawn of democracy in our country. When President Thabo Mbeki
requested that this matter be attend to with the seriousness it deserves, we
saw this as an opportunity for government to discharge its responsibility of
promoting democratic and humanitarian solutions amongst its people.
As the management and development of Mapungubwe National Park is our
competence, our department has been uniquely positioned to lend its experience
on facilitating the liaison between communities and institutions which were
holding these human remains. This was also an important opportunity for us to
deliver on the mandate of our department's people and parks programme which is
an initiative through which we fulfil our social responsibility to
communities.
It would not have been possible to achieve this progress without extensive
consultation with representatives of communities and leaders of institutions
that were holding these human remains. Communities were united in their quest
to claim for remains of their ancestors. Institutions which were holding human
remains acted in good faith as they did not only co-operate with us but became
active members of the Mapungubwe Steering Committee which was established to
facilitate this process.
Shared responsibility, co-operation and trust among all parties involved
were some of the ingredients that made it possible for us to have this
once-in-a-lifetime ceremony where institutions are releasing human remains to
their owners without reservations. The University of Pretoria, Northern
Flagship Institution and Wits University should be commended for their
readiness and willingness to accept claims for human remains to be repatriated
and reburied at their places of origin. Unlike their predecessors who
authorised wholesale excavations and collections of human remains during the
colonial era, the new leaders of these institutions have shown great respect
for indigenous people and the remains of their ancestors.
Our effort in achieving this progress has been a rewarding learning
experience for all stakeholders. As we all know, this has been a very difficult
and exceptionally sensitive task that involved a lot of emotions. We had to
establish common ground as a basis for addressing challenges that we faced
along the way. We remained positive on finding solutions for human remains to
be claimed successfully. We deliberately focused on what can be done instead of
what cannot be done.
We all made an emotional investment for the claims of human remains to be
successful. This emotional investment was not measured by the amount of emotion
that each one of us displayed, but it was characterised by our genuine belief
that the claim for human remains was worthwhile and in the best interest of all
stakeholders.
In conclusion, this symbolic handover ceremony is not just about signalling
to return the dead to the Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape. It is also about
recognising the importance of local custodians and beliefs, and confirms that
the community voices have been heard. By accepting the claims for human
remains, these institutions have shown a huge commitment towards our common
goal of addressing the injustices of our shared past whilst promoting healing
within our communities and reconciliation between previously conflicting
parties.
From here onwards, we all look forward to the Cleansing Ceremony on 6
November 2007 and the Presidential Ceremony to commemorate the successful
repatriation and reburial of all human remains from the Mapungubwe Cultural
Landscape on 20 November 2007.
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
29 October 2007
