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The Hunterian at the University of Glasgow, in collaboration with the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr Gayton McKenzie, through the implementing agencies, Iziko Museums of South Africa and the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), and in partnership with the Northern Cape Reburial Task Team, have jointly announced the repatriation of ancestral human remains from The Hunterian collection in Glasgow, Scotland, to South Africa. This milestone for South Africa has been enabled by the recently endorsed National Policy on Repatriation of Human Remains and Heritage Objects. The policy has created a structured framework for coordinated country-to-country repatriation and set the foundation for a more inclusive and state-led redress process. With this project coming to full circle is the first implementation of one of the policy mandates on the repatriation and restitution of human remains in foreign institutions such as Museums.

The Hunterian holds the partial remains of six individuals, two plaster face-casts and a soapstone smoking pipe excavated from a burial cairn. These were unethically exhumed between 1868 and 1924 and deposited with the University of Glasgow by alumni and other donors. The remains of five of these individuals, and the smoking-pipe, originate from the Northern Cape and are claimed by descendant members of the San, Nama, Griqua and Korana populations. The additional remains originate from the Western Cape and are of Khoi San origin. They were unethically excavated from within a cave and are probably of considerable antiquity. The origin of the two face-casts is unknown, but they are thought to have been purchased in Edinburgh.

Based in South Africa, the Northern Cape Reburial Task Team represents the first indigenous Khoi and San communities (Nama, Griekwa, Korana and San/Bushman) impacted by the historical unethical displacement of ancestral remains. The communities are actively re-engaging and mobilising the above populations as a means of redressing the past and bringing healing to a people who suffered from colonial injustices. The ancestral human remains will be returned to South Africa early next week and transferred into the care of Iziko Museums of South Africa for reburial. A transfer agreement will be signed which will reinstate ownership of the remains to the northern cape reburial task team who represent the descendant communities of the Northern Cape.

Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr Gayton McKenzie, said:

“Today, we stand at a solemn crossroads of memory and justice—a moment to honour those whose stories were silenced by history, and to return them home with dignity. This reburial represents more than a physical return. It is an act of remembrance and respect, acknowledging the profound trauma caused and taking a step toward restoring the dignity of a people and providing respect for the dead that has been long-standing demand in the struggle for justice.”

A delegation from the Northern Cape Reburial Team, Iziko Museums of South Africa, the South African Heritage Resources Agency and the Department of Sports, Art and Culture (National and the Northern Cape Province) will travel to Glasgow to take the remains home to South Africa.

The handover will take place at a special ceremony at the University of Glasgow on Monday, 13 October 2025.

This repatriation will form part of the restoration of dignity to the communities affected and contribute to bringing closure to the trauma that resulted from numerous violations, such as unethical exhumations.

Ancestral human remains, predominantly of Khoi, San and other indigenous origins, were unethically collected during the late 19th and early 20th centuries by institutions in southern Africa and around the world. These remains were acquired without consent, often through illicit trade, unauthorised exhumation and grave robbing, to further race-based and pseudo-scientific research.

For over a century, they were held in institutions, including The Hunterian and Iziko Museums of South Africa, as a result of colonial and apartheid-era practices that treated them as objects of study and display. The Hunterian has acknowledged its colonial legacy and welcomes repatriation claims, prioritising the return of non-British human remains and culturally significant heritage items.

Professor Steph Scholten, Director of The Hunterian, said:

“The repatriation of the ancestral remains of six individuals from The Hunterian to South Africa is a small step towards addressing the historical injustices caused by unethical colonial-era practices. I am glad that we can continue to honour our commitment to work with affected communities in an equitable way, returning human remains and culturally significant items to their rightful communities with dignity and care.”

Led by Iziko Museums of South Africa, the reburial process has been guided by extensive consultation with affected communities and first indigenous Khoi and San leaders to ensure their voices remain central in decision-making. The reburial acknowledges the historical injustices of colonialism and apartheid, which led to the removal, desecration, and exploitation of the ancestors’ remains without consent or respect.

Mr Lennox Tukwayo, Chief Executive Office, Iziko Museums of South Africa said:

“This repatriation of Ancestral Human Remains is a significant and meaningful endeavour. It is an act of remembrance, respect, restorative justice and cultural preservation. The six individuals will form part of the restitution and reburial of fifty-eight individuals from the Iziko South African Museum, later this year.”

Collaboration between the communities of the Northern Cape, Iziko Museums of South Africa, the South African Heritage Resources Agency’s Repatriation and Restitution Office, the Department of Sports, Art and Culture (National and the Northern Cape Province) and The Hunterian has paved the way for the reburial.

Mr Petrus Vaalbooi, Cultural Custodian of the Northern Cape San and Bushmen, said:

“This long-overdue process marks a critical step toward healing, respect, and the restoration of dignity to our ancestors. The moment carries profound cultural and spiritual significance, as it allows for the return of our ancestors to the earth with honour — where traditional healing rituals and ceremonies may be observed in accordance with custom.

This reburial is not merely the return of physical remains; it is a symbolic act of reclaiming heritage, confronting historical injustices, and restoring the dignity of a people. It represents the reconnection of communities with their cultural and spiritual lineage, and the beginning of a healing journey that spans generations.”

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First published: 14 October 2025