Following pressure from the FF Plus, among others, the Executive Mayor of Matlosana, Nonhlupheko Tsolela, undertook to restore the Great Trek 1838 Centenary Memorial Monument in Klerksdorp to its former glory.
The memorial stone was removed from the Monument last month and replaced with a stone commemorating municipal victims of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Earlier this week, the FF Plus pointed out to the Municipality in a media statement that the act was illegal, unlawful and in contravention of heritage measures and the National Heritage Resources Act 25 of 1999.
Michal Groenewald, the FF Plus’s provincial leader in the North West, personally met with the Mayor to express the party’s dissatisfaction with the matter.
In response, the Mayor apologised for the “oversight error” in a statement and undertook to restore the memorial stone to its rightful place.
The FF Plus welcomes the Mayor’s openness regarding the matter as well as his undertaking to rectify it.
The party has never denied anyone else their right to celebrate their history or culture. The fact that South Africa celebrates all its citizens’ heritage on a special day every year demonstrates how important it is to the country’s people.
The Great Trek is one of the most important historical events for Afrikaners and had a drastic impact on the general history of the entire country.
The Monument was inaugurated in November 1938 during the Voortrekker Centenary celebrations. The tracks of the Johanna van der Merwe and the Margaretha Prinsloo ox wagons can still be seen at the Memorial.
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