Ramaphosa to deliver keynote address at reburial of Khoi, San remains

The remains of Khoi and San descendants

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver a keynote address on Monday at the reburial of 63 Khoi and San people whose remains were unethically removed from South African soil more than a century ago.

Descendants of Khoi and San people whose bodies had been exhibited overseas and who are to be reburied next week in the Namaqualand have called for the reburial to be postponed. pic.twitter.com/oyW9KhxSxW

— SABC News (@SABCNews) March 17, 2026

The remains that arrived in Cape Town in October 2025 were displayed overseas but have since reached Steinkopf in the Northern Cape, where a night vigil will be held before the reburial on Monday. The remains were handed over from the Western Cape to the Northern Cape through a traditional ceremony.

MEDIA STATEMENT

Preparations underway for reburial ceremony of 63 Khoi and San Ancestral remains in Steinkopf, Northern Cape

The Government of South Africa, through the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC), together with its entities, the South African Heritage… pic.twitter.com/zSmpYmcWon

— Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (@SportArtsCultur) March 21, 2026