Struggle statue unveiled
THE City of Joburg has unveiled a statue that represents women as the catalysts of social and political change in the country.
The sculpture, titled Democracy is Dialogue, forms part of the city’s transformation agenda to make Joburg an all-inclusive place, according to mayor Parks Tau.
The statue, crafted by Lawrence Lemaona, depicts a woman demonstrator holding a placard and with the other hand grasping a candle to light her way. It is located just across the old City Hall, now the Gauteng legislature, one of the scenes of the 1956 protests against the pass laws.
Tau said the statue was partly launched as a response to the Rhodes Must Fall movement earlier this year. He said the statue represented the universal figure of every woman, especially ordinary women asserting the right to human dignity and to be heard. He said it was inspired by the sacrifices of women such as Sophia de Bruyn, Lilian Ngoyi, Rahima Moosa and Helen Joseph, who it was meant to honour.
“This recaptures our lost history and heritage for future generations, in the hope that they (women) will draw lessons from such history… Transforming the heritage landscape will help our country to exorcise the apartheid demons still trapped in concrete in the public spaces our people pass through every day, enabling us to move forward as a nation,” Tau said.
He added that he hoped the statue would inspire many women to engage in public life and even to campaign for political office.
“This sculpture adds another layer of history to Beyers Naudé Heritage Square that, to this day, remains a popular gathering space for protest movements of all kinds, dating back over 100 years. The power and impact of names has been elegantly and well captured by the writer Fernandez-Armesto.
“Such name changes have a broader role, contributing to city vitality, providing a form of redress and a way of honouring local heroes who where opponents of the apartheid regime,” Tau said.
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