Statues unveiled for castle’s jailed royalty

DEFENCE and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula yesterday unveiled statues of members of royal families who had been imprisoned at the Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town.

The unveiling was part of the 350-year commemoration of the castle, which played an integral part of the colonial government’s exploits from the 17th century.

In the presence of various royal representatives‚ Mapisa-Nqakula unveiled the statues of amaHlubi king Langalibalele‚ Zulu king Cetshwayo‚ Bapedi king Sekhukhune and Khoisan freedom fighter Doman.

The four were incarcerated at the castle when they fought against land dispossession.

In attendance, was Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi‚ who saluted as the statue of the Zulu king was unveiled.

Mapisa-Nqakula was standing in for President Jacob Zuma‚ who was to have delivered the keynote address but pulled out at the last minute.

Mapisa-Nqakula said the castle could be described as a symbol of the beginning of an era, that sent South Africa on a destructive past of colonial injustices and racial oppression.

She said that when the castle was built‚ it was intended to be a solid defence against two enemies – Europeans‚ who could attack from the sea‚ and the indigenous people‚ who sought the return of their land and freedom.

As part of the build-up to the commemoration‚ the castle received a R108-million facelift earlier this year.

“Historically‚ the castle was a centre around which Cape Town and South Africa developed.

“Almost every South African alive today has‚ in one way or another‚ been affected by decisions made at this castle‚” said Mapisa-Nqakula.

She said that despite its history‚ the castle had not received much prominence.

“The [castle] took a backseat as compared to Robben Island‚ Freedom Park‚ the Cradle of Humankind and many other heritage sites‚” she said.

Mapisa-Nqakula promised that government would apply to have the Castle of Good Hope become a World Heritage Site. “We are also opening the first-ever centre for memory‚ healing and learning [at the castle], in recognition of what took place here‚” she said. — TMG Digital