President Cyril Ramaphosa has hailed the 42 freedom fighters whose mortal remains were officially handed over to their families at a ceremony at Freedom Park, on Friday. The remains were repatriated from Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Speaking at the ceremony, the country's number one citizen said the event restored the heroes' nationhood and restored their humanity by returning them to the land of their birth.
"They left a country in which the fundamental rights of its people were brutally and cruelly suppressed by apartheid, which was declared a crime against humanity.
"Today, their remains return to a free and democratic South Africa. It will forever remain a source of regret that they were never to see the dawn of the freedom to which they dedicated their lives. It is fitting that we gather at Freedom Park to honour them," Ramaphosa said.
He said although they departed, their ideals and their values continue to guide the country being built.
"As we welcome these patriots back home, we owe our everlasting gratitude to the countries that offered these freedom fighters shelter, support and, in the end, a fitting resting place. We are grateful in this instance to the governments and peoples of Zambia and Zimbabwe for having taken great care of our compatriots and for enabling their remains to be repatriated," Ramaphosa said.
He said like other countries on our continent – and in other parts of the world – these fighters stood alongside South Africa during the freedom struggle.
Ramaphosa said their names will forever be inscribed at the Wall of Names in Freedom Park.
“We must continue to honour those men and women whose love for their country and its people motivated them to sacrifice their lives for freedom,” Ramaphosa said.
IOL News