The remains of two Namibian political prisoners, who died on Robben Island, have been exhumed in Cape Town.

Festus Nehale and Simon Niilenge died while serving prison sentences during the apartheid era.

Their remains will now undergo scientific examination before being repatriated to Namibia.

The exhumation of Nehale and Niilenge marks another step in returning the remains of Namibians who died in political detention to their homeland.

For the Chairperson of the Council of Traditional Leaders, Immanuel |Gaseb, who forms part of the Namibian delegation, the moment was emotional.

Standing at the gravesite, Gaob |Gaseb reflected on the possible journey travelled by the two men before their deaths on Robben Island.

He described the late Nehale and Niilenge as brave men who sacrificed their lives in the struggle for an independent and free Namibia.

“The two have been buried here for a long time; they are lying on foreign soil. I must thank the President for finalising and taking a decision to repatriate their remains. Imagine, I am not a family member, but to see their skeletal remains was really emotional for me. Now what about the family? Their aim was independence and freedom, and they paid with their lives."

|Gaseb described their participation as significant and thanked the Namibian government for ensuring that the two men are returned home and accorded a burial in line with their contribution to the liberation of Namibia.

Forensic anthropologist Kavita Lakha led the scientific examination of the remains.

Before the excavation began, Dr. Lakha met with relatives of the two men and examined the gravesite.

The excavation was then carried out in stages, with each step documented to ensure the remains are properly recovered and preserved.

Her immediate assessment is that the remains are in good condition.

Dr. Kavita said she is satisfied with what she observed during the initial examination, while noting that a full assessment will follow as the scientific process continues.

“And for me, this is a very special moment because it's also historic for Namibia, and I just want to say we do it with a lot of respect and care and lots of dignity."

Where necessary, samples may also be collected for further scientific analysis, including DNA testing.

The inclusion of the families and traditional leadership formed part of the repatriation process.

Nehale and Niilenge died in custody during the liberation struggle in the 1970s and were buried in Cape Town.