Pretoria: The government is urging families whose relatives died, disappeared, or were buried in Angola during the liberation struggle to register with the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA). This initiative follows the official launch of the Angola phase of South Africa's Exile Repatriation Programme, announced at a media briefing in Pretoria by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) and SAHRA.
According to South African Government News Agency, the Exile Repatriation Project is in response to recommendations made by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which urged the government to trace individuals who disappeared due to political circumstances between 1960 and 1994. The Angola initiative was approved by the Cabinet in March 2026 as part of a five-year plan under the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the South African and Angolan governments in December 2024, as part of the Roads to Independence: African Liberation Heritage Programme.
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie emphasized the programme's purpose of restoring dignity to families awaiting closure for decades. He highlighted the significance of the initiative, citing Angola's substantial number of South Africans who perished in exile during the struggle for liberation.
The government has identified over 400 potential burial sites across different Angolan regions. However, the recovery process is expected to be challenging due to factors such as landmines, unmarked graves, deteriorated remains, and limited historical records. Despite utilizing advanced forensic science and DNA analysis, the Minister acknowledged that some remains might never be recovered or identified.
McKenzie announced that applications are now open for families seeking exhumation, forensic identification, and repatriation of relatives who died in exile in Angola. The programme is inclusive, welcoming applications from South African families regardless of political affiliation or organizational ties. Families can apply online through the SAHRA Exile Repatriation Portal or seek assistance via telephone, in-person visits to SAHRA offices, Freedom Park, provincial DSAC offices, or through military veterans' structures.
Minister McKenzie reassured that all applying families will receive support, and spiritual repatriation will be facilitated for families whose physical remains cannot be recovered. Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga described the initiative as a national obligation to honor those who sacrificed for South Africa's freedom. She acknowledged the technical challenges faced by recovery teams in mine-affected areas and unmarked burial sites.
Motshekga called on families to participate, stressing that each testimony, document, and DNA sample enhances the government's ability to identify and return liberation heroes to their families.
