The return of the remains of Khoisan couple Klaas and Trooi Pienaar to SA is reportedly a milestone for the country.
|||The return of the remains of Khoisan couple Klaas and Trooi Pienaar to SA is a milestone for the country, Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile said yesterday.
“This is strength over oppression. We see the removal of our people, taken to far-away lands for research purposes as part of colonial oppression - it is part of how our people were disrespected,” Mashatile said.
“The Pienaars are truly getting their freedom today… they will now rest in peace… We are very proud today because we are restoring that dignity… that disrespect that took place many years ago.”
Mashatile was speaking at a press conference at OR Tambo International Airport after the couple’s remains arrived from Austria. In 1909, their bodies were exhumed by Austrian anthropologist Rudolf Poch, who claimed to be doing research on dwarfism. Poch also took other human remains, as well as San rock paintings, to Austria. The government has been negotiating for over four years to have the couple’s remains returned, together with other artefacts taken by Poch.
A delegation led by Deputy Arts and Culture Minister Joe Phaahla left for Austria on April 16 and returned yesterday morning.
Phaahla said there were more SA remains in Austria and it was agreed that this would be followed up.
In accordance with custom, community representatives re-ceived the remains from the plane and took them to a waiting hearse.
The Pienaar family said they “felt privileged to be part of this, and that it should happen to their family”. “We have a big appreciation for the SA government for what they did to return the remains,” Francis Pienaar said.
“It is important for us that people realise that the Khoi and Bushmen do exist… When they landed it was an emotional story, but just the fact that the remains are back, we are overjoyed.”
Mashatile said as part of Freedom Month in May, the Pienaar couple would receive a proper burial in the Northern Cape. - Sapa