Pretoria - An audit should be conducted to determine which statues, names and other heritage symbols and sites should fall, and identify those considered to be offensive.
Thereafter, there may be a need for disposal of some, but the process should be guided by policy and not uncoordinated and unguided discretionary disposals, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa said.
He was briefing the media in Pretoria on Wednesday about the 20 resolutions taken after a national consultative meeting last Friday to resolve the issue of colonial symbols.
Mthethwa said participants resolved that a task team be established urgently to ensure the acceleration of the identification, consultation and relocation of statues within the next three to five years.
Special interest groups and political formations of cultural communities that seek to protect symbols should do so without incitement or reintroduction of those of the past regime, he said.
Any change or effort to transform or preserve national symbols should be based on proper and effective consultation with all affected sectors of society.
It should assist in public education that will ultimately foster multi-cultural consciousness, appreciation of past injuries and diverse heritage as well as current imperative of building a non-racial, inclusive, just and cohesive society.
Another resolution was that theme parks for statues be created, where they will be curated for a narrative, historical, educational and themed interpretation.
The parks should be located at local, provincial and national levels and declared as heritage sites for future management and protection.
There should be no assumption that removed statues will be dumped at the museum, as this may be logistically impossible and pose reputational risk for museums to be viewed as dumping areas.
“We will launch vigorous public education and awareness creation campaigns. For instance, retained or changed names should be accompanied by public education campaigns about them,” Mthethwa said.
“Leaders who fought for liberation and contributed to the building of a new society should be identified and a special programme established to celebrate African history on a continental scale to affirm African identity as an antidote for South African exceptionalism.
“We must conduct an intra-African dialogue to promote multi-cultural consciousness. Special attention should be placed on the Khoi and San people.”
A recognition process that goes beyond political figures should be encouraged to include other change makers who contributed to nation-building. The monuments established should be inclusive to represent not just individuals or a particular culture.
Places of national or international importance should be subjected to a national consultative process for change or review.
It was also resolved that transformation of the heritage landscape be preferably inclusive of symbols or themes such as justice, youth, women, peace and reconciliation.
The departments of Basic Education, High Education as well as Arts and Culture should interact and co-ordinate transformation and review of curriculum to introduce national symbols to schools to reflect the journey of transformation.
Mthethwa clarified the misconception that the country was caught on the back foot by the issue of colonial symbols and heritage transformation, saying the government had always been ready.
“Whether it is Oom Paul or Chief Tshwane, no statue should be vandalised, irrespective of how people feel about them,” he said.
Mthethwa said newer statues would not be moved, adding the statue of Madiba at Union Buildings replaced that of JB Hertzog for a reason and would not be removed.
AfriForum objected to the resolutions, arguing they were discussed after most delegates had left.
The civil rights organisation submitted that public consultation should take place throughout the country and that heritage features such as statues should not be removed.
Pretoria News