S Africa reburies nine men hanged in apartheid era

South African authorities on Friday reburied nine men hanged by the apartheid government in 1961 in one of the darkest episodes of the country's racially-divided past.

Known as the "Cato Manor Nine," the group were executed for allegedly killing nine police officers in clashes sparked by raids at a township in KwaZulu-Natal province.

Hailed by the anti-apartheid movement as heroes, the nine were buried in unmarked graves in the capital Pretoria, some 640 kilometres (390 miles) away.

Their remains were exhumed last December last year by the Justice Department's Truth and Reconciliation Commission Unit, supported by specialists in missing persons working for National Prosecuting Authority.

They were reburied with honour on Friday at Heroes Arch in Chesterville -- the resting place in KwaZulu-Natal for many apartheid activists and musicians.

"It has been 60 years since the death of these nine heroes and our country has seen 25 years of democracy," said Justice Minister Ronald Lamola at a ceremony to hand over the remains to relatives.

"As we return the mortal remains of the nine martyrs to their families, we are reminded that the freedoms we enjoy today came at a fatal cost."