Cape Town - The department of Arts and Culture said it was not the government’s policy to tear down statues and monuments.
This comes in the wake of EFF leader Julius Malema who has called on residents around the country to break the law and tear down any symbol that reminds them of apartheid, including the statue of former prime minister Louis Botha outside Parliament.
Malema also wants residents to crush the Cecil John Rhodes statue at UCT.
And he’s not worried about being arrested for inciting public violence because he does not respect a “rotten government.”
Malema made these remarks at an EFF rally in Langa on Saturday, Human Rights Day, in memory of the Sharpeville Massacre and the Langa Massacre.
These events played out 55 years ago and people were killed by the police during both, for protesting against the pass laws.
Yesterday thousands gathered in a marquee on a field in Langa to hear Malema speak.
The rally was meant to have started at 10am, but Malema arrived about three hours late.
As his car was driven on to the field, scores of EFF marshals had to keep hundreds of cheering fans from pushing against it.
As a number of EFF leaders introduced themselves to the crowd, the audience kept chanting “Juju, Juju” in anticipation of his speech.
When he walked to the centre of the stage, they cheered and screamed.
At one point during his speech, which lasted more than 30 minutes, Malema referred to the statue of Cecil John Rhodes on the campus of UCT which some students want removed.
This week the movement, which has become known as the “Rhodes Must Fall” campaign, made headlines with student protesters warning they would take their fight against racism to other universities.
Yesterday Malema said he did not understand why there was a debate about whether the statue should be left on the campus or pulled down.
“There is no discussion. Rhodes must fall,” he said.
At this, the crowd cheered, screamed and whistled.
Malema said Rhodes had wanted to create a city for only white residents and had promoted white supremacy.
“It is because of this Rhodes that you and me today are still suffering…
“If they say it’s expensive to bring him down, the masses must crush that statue of Rhodes, it will not be expensive.
“They can hire our services. We will go and remove it free of charge,” he said.
Malema then went on to encourage the taking down of other statues from the era of repression.
“I’m challenging you. I’m challenging you. Revolution is not a legal activity. You must stop listening to this things like: ‘This is illegal.’ There’s nothing like that.
“I'm challenging you, the fighters of Western Cape, that statue of Louis Botha at Parliament, it must go down and how it goes down is your business. How it goes down, I’m not interested… Make a plan for that statue,” he said
Malema said people were not just depressed by parliamentary Speaker Baleka Mbete in Parliament each day, but first by the statue of Botha.
He then said people around the country should get rid of any symbols of apartheid.
“Those who despise apartheid and everything it represents have a duty to remove those symbols.
“Stop being crybabies. You brought down apartheid. You can’t fail to bring down the symbols of apartheid. It is your duty as a revolutionary.”
Malema’s comments were met with shrieks, applause and stamping.
He added that he did not fear arrest for telling them this.
“If they want to arrest me for saying this and claim I’m inciting violence, they know where to find me. I’m not scared of them. I’m not scared of their government… because this is a rotten government. I have no respect for a rotten government.
“I have no respect for a government that does not respect black people. I’m fighting for the dignity of black people.
“And any symbol that reminds black people they’re inferior shall be confronted by the EFF. We are fearless.”
Earlier, he told residents they had no reason to celebrate Human Rights Day because many of them did not have electricity, proper shelter or access to proper toilets.
He said many sent their children to school without shoes.
“You do not have human rights – your children do not have dignity,” he said.
After his speech, Malema walked into the crowd gathered in the marquee and shook the hands of some.
EFF marshals struggled to control the surging, cheering crowd. Supporters eager to get close to Malema pushed each other, toppling plastic chairs.
Police officers were stationed at certain points on the field, but did not intervene.
Trying to get a photograph of Malema on their cellphones, two young men said his talk had inspired them and they wanted to go to town to see how they could remove the Botha statue.
Friends behind them agreed and cheered.
A 19-year-old lifelong resident of Langa said Malema had given her hope and empowered her.
However, Arts and Culture spokesman Sandile Memele said government policy on heritage sites and memorials, including statues of former oppressors such as Louis Botha or Cecil John Rhodes, was based on reconciliation, nation-building and social cohesion.
“We neither support nor encourage the violent removal of any statue as this might antagonise certain people.
“For this reason, we have embarked on a programme to build new heritage sites like Freedom Park in Pretoria, the Steve Biko Centre of Remembrance in the Eastern Cape and statues of Nelson Mandela at the Union Buildings that will reflect the new values and principles enshrined in our constitution.”
He said it was not advisable to incite violence or promote hate speech to get rid of any statue that represented colonialism, as in the example of the uproar over Cecil John Rhodes at UCT.
“However, when a community is in turmoil over the presence of a particular statue, it might signal it is time for a an open and honest discussion to re-evaluate the issue.
“This matter can be resolved through a legal process and participatory democracy.
“Change is a slow, tedious process by nature, but we cannot say we are opposed to apartheid and its legacy and yet be expected to leave some of its symbols alone. These may be affected as we embark on a process of transformation and consultation,” said Memele.
Weekend Argus