South Africa Reburies Ancestral Khoi and San Remains Repatriated from European Museums

Cyril Ramaphosa led the reburial of 63 Khoi and San ancestral remains in South Africa after their return from European museums. The remains were originally taken without consent during the colonial era. The ceremony, part of Human Rights Month, highlights efforts to restore dignity to indigenous communities and address historical injustices.

Cyril Ramaphosa presided over the reburial of 63 Khoi and San ancestral human remains at the Kinderlê Monument, marking a significant moment in South Africa’s ongoing efforts to confront and address historical injustices. The remains, which had been taken from their communities decades ago, were gradually repatriated from museums across Europe over a number of years, according to authorities.
A presidential statement explained that the remains represent only a small portion of the thousands of indigenous human remains that were unlawfully removed during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many of these remains were exhumed without the consent of families or communities and were subsequently traded, collected, or donated to museums and academic institutions abroad, reflecting practices rooted in colonial exploitation.
Authorities described the repatriation as a deeply meaningful process, emphasizing that the return of the remains from European institutions over time represents a powerful act of restoration, dignity, and healing for affected communities. The reburial ceremony itself was held as part of South Africa’s Human Rights Month commemorations, a period dedicated to reflecting on the country’s history of dispossession, violence, and the denial of basic human dignity, while also honouring the resilience and struggles of its people.
Further details from the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture revealed that in October 2025, some of the Khoi and San ancestral remains were returned from the University of Glasgow. These remains had originally been taken between 1868 and 1924 without consent, as part of what officials described as harmful colonial practices that disregarded the humanity and cultural significance of indigenous peoples.
In his remarks, President Ramaphosa highlighted the deep historical roots of these injustices, stressing that for the Khoi and San communities, such violations did not begin during the apartheid era but date back centuries to the period of colonial conquest. He pointed to a long history of land dispossession, cultural erasure, forced removals, race-based scientific experimentation, and the exploitation of ancestral remains as part of a broader system of oppression.
The process of repatriation and reburial has been coordinated by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture in collaboration with the South African Heritage Resources Agency and Iziko Museums of South Africa. Cultural guidance and oversight were provided by the Northern Cape Task Team, which represents various Khoi and San communities and ensures that the process respects traditional customs and values.
Officials noted that this initiative forms part of a wider national commitment to restoring dignity to South Africa’s First Peoples. By returning ancestral remains to their rightful communities and conducting respectful reburials, the government aims to acknowledge past wrongs and promote healing, ensuring that those who were taken from their land and people are finally laid to rest with the honour and respect they deserve.