- Funeral to coincide with International Human Rights Day on 10 December
GAZETTE REPORTER
The remains of Pitseng Gaoberekwe will be airlifted to Metsiamanong Settlement in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) where they will be buried in his ancestral land on International Human Rights Day.
The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Nelson Ramaotwana, who previously served as the family’s lawyer in their legal battle with the government, told the family in New Xade recently that the state will bear all associated costs, including mortuary charges and transportation.
Body in deteriorated state
He explained that the decision to airlift the body was based on its deteriorated condition and emphasised the government’s commitment to ensuring a dignified burial.
Minister Ramaotwana reassured the family that the District Commissioner’s office, in collaboration with the Council Secretary, will work closely with them to ensure smooth preparations for the burial.
While expressing their anguish over the prolonged legal dispute, the family used the occasion to voice their disappointment with the treatment they endured from the previous government.
President Boko personally intervened
In response, Minister Ramaotwana urged them to forgive and move forward, noting that President Duma Boko had personally intervened to ensure that Gaoberekwe’s wishes are respected.
The burial is scheduled to take place on 10 December to coincide with International Human Rights Day, a move that Ramaotwana described as a symbolic gesture that underscores the government’s acknowledgment of Gaoberekwe’s rights.
Gaoberekwe passed away in December 2021 in New Xade where he had been taken by his family for medical attention. Following his death, the government initially argued that his relocation to New Xade justified burying him there, citing his enrolment in the destitute care programme.
Dark cloud
However, the family vehemently opposed this, insisting that he be buried at his ancestral home in Metsiamanong.
The deceased’s younger brother, Nare Gaoberekwe, expressed deep sorrow over the delay in burying his older brother, describing it as a dark cloud over their family.
He explained that according to their culture, prolonged retention of a corpse is believed to bring misfortune. Nare revealed that two of their siblings had died while their elder brother’s body remained in a mortuary.
Indigenous rights
Despite the pain caused by the delays, he expressed gratitude to the government for ultimately honouring their request. “We are relieved that our brother will finally be laid to rest at his rightful place,” Nare said.
The burial at CKGR will bring closure to a long-standing dispute and marks significant recognition of the rights of indigenous people to honour their cultural and ancestral traditions.