SA History Online
The son of ANC struggle stalwart, Vuyisile Mini, said the reburial of his father's mortal remains in Tsomo in the Eastern Cape on Friday, brought closure to the family after many years.
The reburial came on what would have been Mini's 100th birthday.
He was hanged by the apartheid regime in 1964 for treason at the age of 44 and given a pauper's burial in Pretoria. His remains were re-interred at the Emlotheni Memorial Park in New Brighton township in Port Elizabeth in 1988 before recently being removed to Tsomo.
Mini's son, Xolile, said he wanted his father to be remembered through the creation of opportunities for the communities around Tsomo where he was born. He said these should include schools and job creation opportunities for residents.
"We would also like to have a hospital here at Tsomo. We don't even have a clinic here. We have mobile clinics that would come, sometimes without pills, without anything, (and) we want that to change," he said.
Eastern Cape Premier, Lubabalo Mabuyane said that the family had been appealing for Mini's remains to be returned to Tsomo so that they could have closure.
"We are closing that chapter to ensure that he's actually part of his ancestral land. So, we are quite happy as government in the work that we have been doing here," he said.
Mabuyane said that a science centre being built in Cofinvaba should be renamed "after this great giant."
Meanwhile, Justice and Corrections Minister, Ronald Lamola, told the family that Mini's death was not in vain and that government would continue with its "gallows exhumation" project to bring closure to other families, several from the Eastern Cape.
"This project demonstrates government's firm commitment towards healing the wounds inflicted by the apartheid regime," he said.
