Johannnesburg - The defacing and destroying of statues and monuments is illegal, President Jacob Zuma said on Friday.
“We remind our people that the destruction of statues is illegal. The National Heritage Resources Act of 2009 outline the consultative processes that should be followed in the case of the removal of a statue,” Zuma said.
Apartheid and colonial statues are the subject of national dialogue following the demand by University of Cape Town students for the removal of colonialist Cecil John Rhodes’ statue within the campus.
The statue was removed on Thursday following a decision by the UCT council to have it removed from the campus. Zuma said the process of consultations on the removal of colonial statues was continuing.
He said the statue of former apartheid-era prime minister Barry Hertzog riding a horse at the Union Buildings in Pretoria had been removed and replaced by that former president Nelson Mandela.
“Destroying statues also flies in the face of the preservation of the history of our country, including the repulsive apartheid colonial history,” he said.
Future generations should know the country’s history.
“People should know who colonised the country and those who introduced apartheid which was declared a crime against humanity by the United Nations, and treated the black majority as pariahs in the land of their birth,” Zuma said.
“What should be discussed is the location of the these colonial and apartheid artefacts and we are happy that the debate has begun.”
Zuma unveiled the Chris Hani memorial site in Boksburg alongside Hanis’ wife Limpho Hani on Friday. The memorial, situated at Thomas Nkobi Memorial Cemetery, was declared a heritage site.
Hani was shot and killed in the driveway of his Boksburg home 22 years ago.
ANA