MZWANDILE Simon was only two years old when his father, a Pan African Congress of Azania activist, died on Robben Island.
He was then believed to have been buried in an unmarked grave in Cape Town.
According to the Robben Island Museum, an exhaustive archaeological and DNA search for the remains of 12 inmates who died on the island has been undertaken at a Cape Town cemetery. But the search, which started in 2009, yielded no results.
Since 2009 all 12 families from the Eastern Cape had travelled to Cape Town in hope of finding their loved ones which finally ended in 2011 when no remains could be found at the Stikland cemetery in Bellville, Cape Town.
For the families of Jimmy Simon, Zincwasile Mvalwana, Sipho Khalipha, Mountain Langben , Marthiens Batyi, Frank Mani, John Poni, Mlungisi Mqalu, Reuben Maliwa, Solomon Makisi, Charlie Nkele and Lameki Kula, their journey back to the island was to return the spirits of their loved ones, and in two instances finally lay them to rest.
The family of Kula decided to have a ceremonial burial for him, along with a coffin.
His uncle William Kula, 87, said the family was hurt they could not find his remains but hoped the “burial” could finally end their years of torment not knowing what had happened to their son.
Correctional Services Minister Sbu Ndebele said the symbolic ceremony on Robben Island was very important for the families and for South Africa to get to terms with its apartheid-era past.
“We don’t just inherit the world from our ancestors but we hold it in trust for our children. Our children must have closure, such that it is a history they can touch, that they can feel, that they know this was not in vain,” said Ndebele.
Khanyisile Batyi, whose uncle Marthiens died on the island, said the family was overjoyed at finally being able to close the painful chapter in their history.
Gwebi Mani, whose father Frank also died on the island, said although the family was appreciative of the ceremony there would be no peace until the bones of their loved one could be found.
The family had chosen to take some artefacts from the island back to their home in Port Elizabeth, in an ordinary cardboard box.
Spirits of Robben Island dead released
He was then believed to have been buried in an unmarked grave in Cape Town.
According to the Robben Island Museum, an exhaustive archaeological and DNA search for the remains of 12 inmates who died on the island has been undertaken at a Cape Town cemetery. But the search, which started in 2009, yielded no results.
Since 2009 all 12 families from the Eastern Cape had travelled to Cape Town in hope of finding their loved ones which finally ended in 2011 when no remains could be found at the Stikland cemetery in Bellville, Cape Town.
For the families of Jimmy Simon, Zincwasile Mvalwana, Sipho Khalipha, Mountain Langben , Marthiens Batyi, Frank Mani, John Poni, Mlungisi Mqalu, Reuben Maliwa, Solomon Makisi, Charlie Nkele and Lameki Kula, their journey back to the island was to return the spirits of their loved ones, and in two instances finally lay them to rest.
The family of Kula decided to have a ceremonial burial for him, along with a coffin.
His uncle William Kula, 87, said the family was hurt they could not find his remains but hoped the “burial” could finally end their years of torment not knowing what had happened to their son.
Correctional Services Minister Sbu Ndebele said the symbolic ceremony on Robben Island was very important for the families and for South Africa to get to terms with its apartheid-era past.
“We don’t just inherit the world from our ancestors but we hold it in trust for our children. Our children must have closure, such that it is a history they can touch, that they can feel, that they know this was not in vain,” said Ndebele.
Khanyisile Batyi, whose uncle Marthiens died on the island, said the family was overjoyed at finally being able to close the painful chapter in their history.
Gwebi Mani, whose father Frank also died on the island, said although the family was appreciative of the ceremony there would be no peace until the bones of their loved one could be found.
The family had chosen to take some artefacts from the island back to their home in Port Elizabeth, in an ordinary cardboard box.
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