Sobukwe grave restored

THE gravesite of anti- apartheid activist Robert Sobukwe was declared a heritage site at the weekend during an emotional hand- over to his family and the Graaff- Reinet municipality.

Speaking at the event, Eastern Cape Roads and Public Works MEC Thandiswa Marawu said the gravesite had been badly damaged and, as a way to honour Sobukwe, the department had spent R500000 to renovate it.

Earlier, the MEC unveiled a memorial to Sobukwe.

Marawu said thegovernment wanted to acknowledged the heroic role played by Sobukwe and had thus agreed to make the grave a heritage site.

A formal announcement would be made by the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) at a later stage.

South Africa's born- free generation needed to know the role played by fallen heroes such as Sobukwe, Marawu said. - Hendrick Mphande