Cape Town statue proposal on hold

PLANS to unveil a statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Heerengracht Street in Cape Town have been placed on hold after objections were lodged.

In December, the Indian consulate Cape Town submitted a proposal to the city to donate and install a life-sized memorial statue of Gandhi.

The Consulate-General of India would take responsibility for the design, construction and installation of the statue.

However, at a meeting convened last month by the Mayoral Committee, 59.7% of the 67 people who participated in the public participation forum objected, while 47.3% supported the installation.

Khenke Poswa voted for the statue, saying Gandhi had almost the same integrity, honesty and leadership as Nelson Mandela.

Sarah Rushmere said: “It’s wonderful to have a reminder of this great global icon, and to hopefully remind everyone of more peaceful ways to advocate for change.”

However, Pule Kgoismele said she would object to any erection, street naming or building/institution being named after Gandhi.

“He was a staunch anti-black, anti-African personality… The direction of his statue will be an insult and dehumanise black and Khoisan descendants of Cape Town.”

She suggested South African activist Ashley Kriel be honoured instead.

R Kokama said he too would object: “… Not when Indians still treat our people in Durban as slaves even today.”

David Bolton said: “Homeless children are starving… people are dying… crime is out of control, but yes… let’s spend millions to make a spectacular event to unveil a statue of a person from another country.”

John Bezuidenhout suggested that the statue be erected somewhere in a “typical Indian community (maybe KwaZulu-Natal)”.

He added: “… but not in Cape Town as he was not instrumental in the history of the Cape at all.”

DA member Zahid Badroodien, a mayoral committee member for community services and health, said a final decision would be made by a full sitting of council this month.

Yonela Diko, the ANC Western Cape spokesperson, said: “It’s important for South Africans to know about Gandhi’s movement because it didn’t only happen in India but also here in South Africa.

“His movement and the ANC’s movement started out similarly in the sense that it was both about non-violence.

“I know there have been some extreme voices denying the statue but these voices should not determine it. Overall, Gandhi fought for the independence of oppressed people and he came here and empowered our people.”

The office of the consulate general India in Cape Town declined to comment.