DATE: 25 MARCH 2026

MEDIA STATEMENT: CLARIFICATION ON THE REBURIAL PROCESS OF THE KHOI AND SAN REMAINS

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has taken note of a video circulating on Facebook by Mr Paul Swartbooi, in which he alleges that the graves of the recently reburied Khoi and San remains are only partially closed, and further suggests that this reflects disrespect and undermining of the dignity of the deceased.

The Department wishes to categorically clarify that the footage captured by Mr Swartbooi reflects a stage in the process before its full completion. Due to the softness of the sand at the burial site, technical advice was provided that the soil must first be allowed to settle naturally before the graves can be completely closed , which was done on the 25 March 2026. This is a standard and necessary procedure to ensure the long-term stability and integrity of the site.

The final closing of the graves was undertaken by SAHRA. This step was critical to ensure that the soil is properly compacted and secure, particularly in preparation for the memorisation of the site in honour of the 63 Khoi and San individuals.

It is important to emphasize that the entire reburial process is being led by the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), the legally mandated authority responsible for the management and protection of heritage resources in South Africa. SAHRA has extensive experience in overseeing the dignified reburial of human remains, particularly those of indigenous communities who were historically subjected to inhumane treatment and exploitation for research purposes.

The Department urges community members and the public to allow the process to reach its full conclusion before making statements that may be misleading or create unnecessary confusion.

Furthermore, it must be noted that Mr Paul Swartbooi, the author of the video, previously appeared on national television claiming that there was no consultation and expressing intentions to halt the reburial process. However, this matter was addressed in a community meeting where the Khoi and San traditional leaders, led by Mr James Mapanka, Chairperson of the Reburial Task Team, confirmed that thorough consultations had indeed taken place with all relevant stakeholders.

The Department remains committed to ensuring that this historic and sensitive process is carried out with the utmost dignity, respect, and in full consultation with affected communities.

For further media enquiries, please contact

Conrad Fortune

Manager :  Communications
Department of Sport, Arts and Culture – Northern Cape
079 873 0679
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