Minister Gayton McKenzie to host historic Repatriation Ceremony of Namibian Political Prisoners and Ancestral Remains in Cape Town.

The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, in partnership with Iziko Museums of South Africa, Robben Island Museum (RIM) and the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), together with representatives of the Government of the Republic of Namibia, invites members of the media to a solemn repatriation ceremony honouring two Namibian political prisoners and returning ancestral human remains, grave goods and body casts to their rightful cultural context.

This landmark occasion represents a significant act of restorative justice and a reaffirmation of human dignity, confronting the painful legacies of apartheid and colonialism. The ceremony will bring together senior government representatives from South Africa and Namibia and will include official addresses and cultural rituals honouring those being returned.

The repatriation marks a profound step towards healing historical wounds, restoring dignity and reclaiming a history that was unjustly denied. It further underscores the commitment of both countries to addressing the enduring consequences of historical injustice and advancing meaningful cultural restitution.

Members of the media are invited to attend as follows:
Date: Wednesday, 19 August 2026
Time: 10:00 – 15:00
Venue: Iziko South African Museum, 25 Queen Victoria Street, Gardens, Cape Town.

For RSVPs,
Ms Tebogo Sebua, E-mail: tsebua@iziko.org.za, Cell: 065 882 0834 (Call &WhatsApp)
Ms Zikhona Jafta, E-mail: zjafta@iziko.org.za, Cell: 074 345 8139

For media enquiries:
Ms Melody Kleinsmith, Marketing & Communications Manager, Iziko Museums of South Africa │Email: mkleinsmith@iziko.org.za │ Cell: 073 107 4955

Issued by the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture

Tebogo Sebua
tsebua@iziko.org.za
065 882 0834
Iziko Museums of South Africa
http://www.iziko.org.za