Nakasa family says "Thank you"

@SITHOLEEXPRESS 

Nat Nakasa will be buried at his home town Chesterville cementrey.

Nat Nakasa's sister Gladys Maphumulo has thanked government, Sanef, the media and all those who helped bring home his remains.

In a letter read at the funeral service by Sibusiso Bhengu, Maphumulo says, "We thank all of you - those who have been there and the whole community.. thank you for your support. We are truly grateful. We thank God for what he has done for us."

Speaker after speaker described Nakasa as a courageous writer and shared the memories they had of him.

Family friend Don Mkhwanazi says, "There are a few personal recollections that I cherish. I'd share it if I had time. Nat was my father's student at Chesterville. Nat is a symbol of the scars apartheid had left on South African journalism."

Journalist Mathatha Tsedu, who initiated the repatriation of Nakasa's remains, says Nakasa's story evokes anger. He says, "We as a nation who can sometimes fight like cats have found ourselves today united by Nat."

People arrived at the service from all over the country. The coffin, draped in the South African flag, was carried into the venue shortly after 10am. 

Nakasa left South Africa on an exit permit in 1964 and died in New York the following year. He was buried at the Ferncliff Cemetery in the United States.

His remains will now be reburied at his home town in Chesterville.

Nat Nakasa reburial service

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This article first appeared on SABCNews site. It was done by Sthembiso Sithole (@SITHOLEEXPRESS) on Twitter.