THE family of a Sebokeng, Vaal Triangle, man who disappeared during political riots in the area in 1992, breathed a sigh of relief last week when they discovered where his remains were buried.
Buti Mgakelana, who was born in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, was found dead at Langlaagte railway station in Johannesburg.
He was buried as a pauper because he was unidentified.
His body was cremated with others and buried in one grave at Braamfontein Cemetery.
His brother, Mzwakhe Mgakelana, said the family only found the grave last week. He said when his younger brother disappeared he was not married and had no child.
"Buti disappeared while job hunting in Joburg. We searched for him in hospitals, mortuaries and jails, but we never found him. Eventually, we stopped looking," said Mzwakhe.
National Prosecuting Authority spokeswoman Phindi Louw has confirmed that the Missing Persons Task Team assisted the Mgakelana family in tracing Buti's whereabouts.
"He was found stabbed on the platform at Langlaagte station. Initially, he was not identified and his remains were cremated, as was the policy of the City of Johannesburg at that time regarding unidentified and unclaimed bodies. They were placed in an ash grave in Braamfontein."
Louw said the NPA took the family to the cemetery where Alan Buff, retired from City of Johannesburg, was able to show the family the cremation process and the site of the ash grave.
The family got a breakthrough in 2010 when they verified his status at the Department of Home Affairs. The death certificate indicated he died on June 31 1992 of a wound in the heart.
"From then, I contacted Khulumani Organisation who helped me to establish who buried him. When the NPA contacted me I was ecstatic because I knew I will rebury his remains. But my excitement was short-lived when they told me he was cremated."
The Mgakelana family still have questions on how Buti ended up being buried as a pauper. They say they are angry because the police failed to tell them about his death despite having his address.
Chairwoman of Khulumani's Sebokeng branch Elizabeth Mokoena confirmed that working with the NPA and the Truth and Reconciliation Unit they were able to locate the grave.
The NPA said: "If one also includes those who died in exile and whose remains were never returned to South Africa, one can possibly speak of 2000 cases where families are seeking the remains of their loved ones."
Zweli Mkhize of the Johannesburg branch of Khulumani said their national database had over 1000 people who are yet to be found. It is also reported that the ANC has about 1200 people listed as missing in exile.
Family find remains of man pauper as a pauper
THE family of a Sebokeng, Vaal Triangle, man who disappeared during political riots in the area in 1992, breathed a sigh of relief last week when they discovered where his remains were buried.
Buti Mgakelana, who was born in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, was found dead at Langlaagte railway station in Johannesburg.
He was buried as a pauper because he was unidentified.
His body was cremated with others and buried in one grave at Braamfontein Cemetery.
His brother, Mzwakhe Mgakelana, said the family only found the grave last week. He said when his younger brother disappeared he was not married and had no child.
"Buti disappeared while job hunting in Joburg. We searched for him in hospitals, mortuaries and jails, but we never found him. Eventually, we stopped looking," said Mzwakhe.
National Prosecuting Authority spokeswoman Phindi Louw has confirmed that the Missing Persons Task Team assisted the Mgakelana family in tracing Buti's whereabouts.
"He was found stabbed on the platform at Langlaagte station. Initially, he was not identified and his remains were cremated, as was the policy of the City of Johannesburg at that time regarding unidentified and unclaimed bodies. They were placed in an ash grave in Braamfontein."
Louw said the NPA took the family to the cemetery where Alan Buff, retired from City of Johannesburg, was able to show the family the cremation process and the site of the ash grave.
The family got a breakthrough in 2010 when they verified his status at the Department of Home Affairs. The death certificate indicated he died on June 31 1992 of a wound in the heart.
"From then, I contacted Khulumani Organisation who helped me to establish who buried him. When the NPA contacted me I was ecstatic because I knew I will rebury his remains. But my excitement was short-lived when they told me he was cremated."
The Mgakelana family still have questions on how Buti ended up being buried as a pauper. They say they are angry because the police failed to tell them about his death despite having his address.
Chairwoman of Khulumani's Sebokeng branch Elizabeth Mokoena confirmed that working with the NPA and the Truth and Reconciliation Unit they were able to locate the grave.
The NPA said: "If one also includes those who died in exile and whose remains were never returned to South Africa, one can possibly speak of 2000 cases where families are seeking the remains of their loved ones."
Zweli Mkhize of the Johannesburg branch of Khulumani said their national database had over 1000 people who are yet to be found. It is also reported that the ANC has about 1200 people listed as missing in exile.
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