The reburial of the remains of freedom fighter, Basil February, has been conducted in Cape Town. He died in combat in Zimbabwe in 1967 at the age of 24. His family says after decades of searching for his grave, it has now found closure.
His remains have been returned to his family in Cape Town and a funeral service has been held in Somerset West. In September, the remains of some liberation fighters who died in Zambia and Zimbabwe were repatriated to South Africa.
Remembered by the family as a person who was extremely focused. Brutally honest and frank, February has been described as a joyful person who loved engaging in discussions and debates on issues of collective importance. Also known by his operative name Paul Peterson, February was killed as an MK fighter in combat against the apartheid regime.
His younger brother, Terry February says, Today we are burying Basil in the family grave in fact, our family grave in that grave is my grandmother and my grandfather that is also the burial grave of my father but we buried the ashes in that grave of my mother and as we prepared the grave for todays funeral of Basil. I managed to retrieve my mothers ashes and those ashes will now be placed in the coffin with Basils remains for burial today and thats quite a significant and special moment for us as a family.
He was also revered by his colleagues in exile. He went to former Czechoslovakia for training and, there, he was identified as having achieved brilliantly in all aspects that were put in front of him.
