Pretoria: Cabinet has welcomed the government’s recent engagement with leading members of the judiciary, including Chief Justice Mandisa Maya. Last Friday’s engagement was led by President Cyril Ramaphosa and held at the President’s official residence in Pretoria.

According to South African Government News Agency, Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, stated at a media briefing on Thursday that the Constitutional Court is an important instrument in the protection of the country’s Constitutional democracy. The engagement between government and the judiciary, led by Chief Justice Mandisa Maya and heads of courts, focused on discussing the implementation of outstanding administrative measures to ensure the judiciary operates as an independent arm of the state.

Currently, the budget of the Constitutional Court is administered by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, whereas Parliament administers its own budget. Ntshavheni emphasized that both the Executive and the Judiciary reaffirmed their shared commitment to building a stronger, more effective justice system, firmly anchored in the values of the Constitution, during the post-Cabinet briefing held in Cape Town.

Turning to the launch of the second phase of the South African government’s exile repatriation and reburial project, Ntshavheni highlighted the importance of bringing back the remains of loved ones who died in exile. The government has announced that 58 indigenous Khoi and San ancestral remains will be reburied in the Northern Cape.

While tracing, exhuming, and returning the remains of liberation fighters who died in exile remains a focus, the initiative to bring home and rebury the remains of the Khoi and San from outside the country is crucial for accurately recording the ancestry of the nation. The process of reburial for the 58 ancestral remains of the Khoi and San from the Northern Cape is at an advanced stage, with consultations with affected communities underway.

This initiative builds on the success of the repatriation of 49 former freedom fighters in 2024 and demonstrates the government’s commitment to addressing historical injustices and fostering unity and healing within the nation. A joint delegation is expected to embark on a technical mission to Southern African counterparts, including Angola, Lesotho, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, to conduct further research, inspect cemetery records, and map graves.