MyPE

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Historic statue defaced after municipality fails to erect fencing

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Dear MyPE

After numerous attempts by me to get permission to have the monuments in Burgersdorp fenced, the inevitable has happened – one of the monuments on the Town’s Square was dressed in green paint during the early hours of the 2nd of June 2015.

My plea with the municipality to have these monuments fenced was shot down by the Municipal Manager, Thembinkosi Mawonga. His response to my numerous attempts to address the issue led me seeking permission from Honourable Mayor, Ncedo Ngoqu, who authorised fencing to begin immediately around these monuments. The fencing began in the week of 28th July 2014, and was almost immediately stopped by Mr Mawonga once he had discovered that fencing had been undertaken. The factualism in this municipality between the mayor and municipal manager are palpable and are causing unrest.

Together with my colleague Ross Purdon, MPL for Sports, Arts and Culture; questions were asked to the MEC Pemmy Majodina regarding these monuments, dated 15 October 2014. She responded by shrugging her shoulders and passing it back to the municipality who were unwilling to help from the start.

The law states categorically in Sections 27, 29 and 34 of the Heritage Act (Act 25 of 1999) that ALL provincial heritage sites MUST be protected if it is older than 60 years. The Burger and Taal Monuments are 121 years old and therefore should be protected. Mr Mawonga’s lack of interest in protecting these historically cultural monuments is seen as an effort to derail the community of Burgersdorp.

I will today lay case of vandalism at the police, clean the statue with the assistance of the Afrikaanse Taal en Kultuur Vereniging (ATKV) and will be writing a letter to National Shadow minister of arts and culture, Winston Rabotapi, to table it on a national level due to the lack of interest shown at a provincial level.

History cannot be erased, in a new South Africa we must unite against racially divisive acts!

Regards

Marina Van Zyl

Burgersdorp Statue Defaced
Burgersdorp Statue Defaced
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