Nomination of the Sutherland 9 Reburial Site as National Heritage Site

The Anglo-Boer War cemetery in Sutherland was chosen as the final resting place due to its historical significance. However, even though the cemetery itself holds a huge heritage significance, the Sutherland Nine reburial project is the largest restorative justice process in South Africa to date. This process not only rectified a historical blunder but also served as a valuable lesson about the necessity of respect and dignity for all individuals, irrespective of their cultural or ethnic background.
The restitution of the Sutherland Nine to their ancestral land is not just a mere act of reparation. It acknowledges their existence, underscores their significance, and recognizes their permanent mark on history. It validates the narratives passed down by their descendants and revives their communal memory. This event serves as an enlightening and invaluable lesson in historical justice and cultural understanding, an educational experience that holds monumental importance not just for the Sutherland community, but for the entire human race.
The Stuurman Heritage and Development Foundation, representing the Stuurman families in the Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and Western Cape believe that portion of the cemetery were the nine graves are located should be declared a national heritage site because of the national significance it holds. These nine graves represent the injustices perpetrated against the indigenous San and Khoi communities in South Africa and their long struggle for recognition and restoration.