(Parliamentary debate: Establishment of an ad hoc committee to investigate the continued presence of apartheid-era statues and memorials in public spaces)
In a country where the economy is not growing, unemployment stands at over 33% and the people are desperate for a job or some form of income, the EFF thinks it would be worthwhile to debate the removal of statues and memorials.
It is reminiscent of the EFF’s opportunism four years ago when it tried to hoodwink the ANC with the constitutional section 25 debate on expropriation and property rights.
Recently, the EFF referred to the statue of former President Paul Kruger in front of the Union Buildings, claiming such symbols make them feel “inferior”. There is no statue of Kruger in front of the Union Buildings. And no-one can make you feel inferior, except you.
The following snippet of history illustrates why ignorance of the past is so dangerous:
King Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo was born in 1868. In 1884, he sought the Boers’ assistance in a conflict with Chief Zibhebhu kaMaphita, who challenged Dinuzulu’s claim to the throne. General Louis Botha helped Dinuzulu defeat his enemy.
The British later accused Dinuzulu of high treason following the Bambatha Rebellion and imprisoned him in 1908. After the Union was established in 1910, Louis Botha secured Dinuzulu’s release – one of his first acts as Prime Minister.
Today, at the corner of Berea Road and Warwick Avenue in Durban, two statues stand facing each other, depicting this remarkable friendship: one of King Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo and the other of Louis Botha.
This is the same Louis Botha whose statue is now suddenly deemed unwelcome.
During today’s debate on the matter in Parliament, it became evident that there are two types of people in South Africa: builders and breakers. Fortunately, most are builders. These are the people who recognise the realities of the past, while also commemorating contemporary heroes and statesmen.
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) wholeheartedly endorses this positive approach. The breakers among us, who want to tear down everything relating to the past and our shared history, will eventually realise that it will make no difference to the harsh realities faced by South Africa today.
Part of that reality is that the economy has ground to a halt and there is little to no job creation. The Freedom Front Plus calls on everyone in the country to start building a better future. Nothing can be done about the past.
