Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma is to unveil a dedicated wall in the gallows at the C-Max prison with individual plaques for each of the 132 political prisoners executed there during the apartheid regime on 15 December.
This, according to Correctional Services Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, would be to acknowledge the sacrifice of the families and the contribution of those who gave their lives in the struggle for freedom.
The families of all the executed political prisoners have been located and will be assisted to come to Pretoria the day before the event to take part in a cleansing ceremony.
The families will also be taken to two cemeteries in Pretoria - Mamelodi and Rebecca Street - where officials of the National Prosecution Authority's Missing Persons Task Team will assist them to locate the graves of their loved ones.
On the same day, about 300 family members will visit the gallows where they will have an opportunity to grieve for their loved ones.
Religious and traditional leaders as well as counsellors and therapists will be present to help families cope with pain and trauma.
"The intention of the project is to initiate dialogue amongst all South Africans in order to bring about healing, unity and social cohesion around this painful part of our history," Mapisa-Nqakula said.
"Not only is it the intention of this project to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom but also to expose generations to the mistakes of our past so that they may never be repeated."
She hoped the project would also make all South Africans recognise why the death penalty has been abolished and has no place in the new constitutional framework.
The gallows will be open to the public as a memorial museum.
