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.

A South African forensic anthropologist, Dr Kavita Lakha, will lead the scientific examination of the remains of former Robben Island political prisoners Simon Niilenge and Festus Nehale. 

It was a sombre day for the families of Namibian liberation heroes Festus Nehale and Petrus Niilenge, as they visited their graves in Cape Town ahead of the exhumation and repatriation of their remains.

The two men died while imprisoned on Robben Island.

The remains of two Namibians who died while imprisoned on Robben Island and were buried in Cape Town, South Africa, are to be exhumed and repatriated before 26 August 2026.

The Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs commissioned the exhumation and re-interment committee at the Defence Headquarters in Windhoek.

Before the commissioning, Frans Kapofi instituted and appointed retired Major General Charles Namoloh as Chairperson of the Committee.