Sutherland 9 Reburial

The Anglo-Boer War cemetery in Sutherland was chosen as the final resting place due to its historical significance.  However, even though the cemetery itself holds a huge heritage significance, the Sutherland Nine reburial project is the largest restorative justice process in South Africa to date. The remains were removed unethically from Sutherland in the 1920s and donated to UCT for research purposes.  The remains were repatriated to Sutherland, through an inclusive process in terms of government policies and legislation and reburied at the site on 26 November 2023. This process not only rectified a historical blunder but also served as a valuable lesson about the necessity of respect and dignity for all individuals, irrespective of their cultural or ethnic background.