Cape Town police have arrested three people on Wednesday, 16 March for allegedly vandalising the statue of the former statesman Louis Botha, which is situated at the main entrance of Parliament.
According to police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe, police officers spotted the trio who were in possession of a ladder, grinder and generator near the statue.
“Members of the SAPS moved in swiftly and managed to confiscate the items. During a scuffle between members of the SAPS and the trio, one of the male suspects managed to spray paint as well as to vandalize the statue,” Mathe said.
Mathe said two men aged 28 and 39, as well as a 32-year-old woman, will now be charged for malicious damage to property, resisting arrest as well as assault of police officers.
Vandalised
Meanwhile, the Freedom Front Plus’ Heloïse Denne further mentioned that the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa has recently announced the department’s plans to move so-called Apartheid statues to statue parks.
“What exactly is considered an Apartheid statue remains unclear, but in the process, the department and the ANC government have paved the way for disrespectful, rash and vandalistic behaviour.
“Apparently, uninformed, radical outcasts are under the impression that they have the right and platform to commit such criminal acts of vandalism. The department is just as much to blame for these vandals’ actions as the EFF and its members, and it must be held accountable,”
According to Denne, regardless of the origin of any statue, image or memorial of historical value, it is ought to be respected and conserved because it is part of South Africa’s history and heritage landscape.
“Just because an individual or party does not like, know or respect a part of our history, it does not give them the right to destroy any statue or memorial that represents that part of history,” Denne adds.
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Picture: Land Noli / Facebook