PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered the countries of Europe to return all the treasures seized from this country so that they can conduct research and store them in universities and heritage sites in those countries. Ramaphosa said that they want everything, including the bones dug up by people to be shown to the world.
“We want everything that was seized in ancient times, taken to European countries to be preserved and research done. Human bones were dug up inappropriately to be displayed in heritage sites in these countries. We want all these treasures because they are ours, to return to this country because they are a history that reveals who we are,” said Ramaphosa.
He said this yesterday, during the reburial of 63 bones, belonging to the Khoi and San tribes, which were kept in various educational institutions as well as in heritage sites such as the Hunterian Museum, the University of Glasgow in Scotland, and the Ziko Museum. These treasures were re-hidden at the Kinderlê Monument, Steinkopf, Northern Cape.
“The spirit of those who were removed from this country illegally could not rest because they were imprisoned in other countries. They were not in their country, near their relatives and their children. For the Scots, I want when they come to their country they say that I am sorry, I want all the things that were taken from this country to be returned.”
He said the reburial of these bones was done in collaboration with the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture as well as the South African Heritage Resources Agency and Ziko Museums.
“The purpose of doing this is to honor all those who fight for rights in this country. We must respect them by burying them in a respectful manner. We are doing this to highlight the month of Human Rights.”
He said that those who took the treasures of other countries to their own countries were driven by racism.
He also revealed that he has instructed the Minister of Sports, Mr Gayton McKenzie, to start a program to bring back one of Zimbabwe’s birds.
“A delegation from Zimbabwe arrived, looking for one of the birds said to have been taken by a leader from Britain, Mr. Cecil John Rhodes (who was in charge of the Cape Colony), who seized this bird which is said to be kept in Groote Schuur. They said this bird was their symbol as Zimbabweans, and they want it to return to their country. I have ordered McKenzie to speed up the process to return this bird because all foreign valuables that are stolen, must be returned.”
He said that is why they are also looking for all the treasures that are stolen in this country because they mean a lot to the people of this country. The Chairperson of the South African Heritage Resources Agency, Ms. Elodie Tlhoaele, said that illegally excavated bones are being re-hidden and taken to other countries for research.
“We are restoring the dignity of the people of this country where they were kept and used as exhibits in educational institutions and museums. We are protecting all the treasures of this country and we are bringing them back so they can be hidden in a respectful way.”