Question NW1870 to the Minister of Sport, Arts andCulture
01 June 2022 - NW1870
Joseph, Mr D to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts andCulture
(1). Whether universities and/or other institutions of learning, museums, and/or other institutions in the public and/or private sector are in possession of human remains; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what policy and processes are in place for the families of such human remains to achieve closure in a dignified manner; (2). whether his department has been advised of and/or is involved in the Stuurman family dispute in the Northern Cape and Eastern Cape over human remains that are at the University of Cape Town, regarding where the final resting place of the remains should be; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what (a) is the role of his department in assisting with resolving the dispute regarding the final resting place of the Stuurman remains and (b) are the details of his department’s (i) research findings and (ii) position in the determination of the origin of the Stuurman name?
Reply:
(1). A number of universities and museums in the public and private sectors are in possession of human remains. The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has developed the National Policy on the Repatriation and Restitution of Human Remains and Heritage Objects to deal with this issue. As part of the implementation of this Policy, the Department, together with the South African Heritage Resources Agency is establishing the Repatriation and Restitution Office (RRO), which will directly deal with the repatriation and restitution of human remains and heritage objects. Additionally, the Minister has appointed an Advisory Committee that will provide expert advice on this matter to the RRO and the Department.
2. The Ministry has been advised of the Stuurman family dispute and is being regularly updated on the developments. In December 2021, the Minister wrote to the University of Cape Town and asked the University to ensure that all the Stuurman family members be involved in the reburial of the Sutherland 9 human remains, and in particular, that the House of Klaas and Dawid Stuurman as represented by Mr. Edmund Stuurman is part of the decision making about where the remains are to be buried.