Pretoria - South Africa needs thorough, inclusive consultation on the divisive apartheid-era statues, monuments and murals, Tshwane Mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa said on Thursday.
“We condemn the defacing, vandalism and destruction of the statues. You don’t impose your views. You might have strong views but they must be subjected to a process,” said Ramokgopa.
“I think it will be a dark day when we accept that those with strong views and those who use violence, their views prevail. We refuse to be intimidated as a city. We will use everything in our arsenal to defend the democratic project.”
Ramokgopa was addressing a public dialogue on monuments and heritage in Pretoria.
He said there was unwillingness “by others” to deliberate on the contentious topic but the consultation process would not be derailed.
“One of the positive things which has happened as a result of the statues must fall calls is that it has brought to our attention the need for a bigger debate. I think we have been comfortable some degree of unease but we had accepted that, until the calls came. That’s why now there is a new energy resonating across the country.”
“Tensions have surfaced between two extremist views. One borders on nihilism, that we must destruct public institutions beliefs because they are so bad and are not helpful. The others are saying ‘we dont want to subject ourselves to a conversation – what we desire must happen’,” said Ramokgopa.
He said the opposition to the consultation processes was prepared to use violence.
Several statues, including that of Paul Kruger, have been vandalised in Pretoria. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has repeatedly protested at the statue, calling for its immediate removal.
ANA