South Africa Returns Remains of Activists Executed During Apartheid

By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu

The South African government has returned the remains of Benjamin Moloise, an anti-apartheid activist executed in 1985, to his family. Moloise was hanged at the age of 30 after being convicted of killing a security policeman, a charge he denied. His execution drew widespread international condemnation and sparked protests both in South Africa and abroad.

The remains of another activist, Abraham Mngomezulu, were also handed over during the same ceremony in Soweto. Mngomezulu was executed in 1989 at the age of 23 for involvement in protests against forced evictions.

Both men were buried in unmarked graves without the presence of their families. Their reburial is part of an ongoing national effort to address apartheid-era injustices. Authorities say more remains of political prisoners are being returned to their families, as investigations into unresolved cases continue.