The reburial of Flora

On 6 April 1991, the reburial of a slave named Flora took place at Vergelegen Wine Estate, Somerset West. This came about after the discovery of her remains in October 1990, when University of Cape Town(UCT) archaeologists unearthed the site of the Slave Lodge at Vergelegen.The remains were unearthed from a wooden box possibly made from yellow wood, with thirty-six iron nails that were recovered ranged in length from 18 to 105 mm. The archaeologists had discovered fine pieces of bone in the box and through scientific testing were able to conclude that the remains found were that of a female aged between 50-59 years old. They were also able to decipher from her diet and dental records that she was from a tropical area therefore indicating that she came to Vergelegen as a slave.For the reburial, anew coffin was made, flower arrangements were delivered and food was prepared for the day.

A lay minister from the estate presided over the funeral. In attendance were around twenty to thirty members of the farmworker community who now had an opportunity to come together as a community again after a long time. This would be since the owners of the Vergelegen Wine Estate, Anglo-American Farms had arranged to put many of the elderly, retired farmworkers in old-age homes in Macassar. Other farmworkers were offered home-ownership outside the farm, in the Strand. During and after the ceremony everyone joined in the traditional funeral hymns as the men of the community gently lowered the coffin into the ground. Leaves and petals were strewn over the coffin before sand was gently shovelled into the grave. Flora would now be laid to rest, after a dignified and fitting reburial.