Public has to be consulted on statue, says heritage body

itage is represented in our country,” Sahra chief executive Veliswa Baduza said on Thursday.

Baduza was discussing Sahra’s view on the ongoing debates and student- led protests surrounding colonial and apartheid- era statues, signs and symbols.

Most notable was the Rhodes statue at UCT, where the university’s senate recently voted almost unanimously for its removal.

“Moving a statue to a less prominent place can and has been done,” said Baduza, “We cannot obliterate history, but we can determine what our national heritage looks like.”

Baduza explained the process UCT would need to follow before potentially moving a statue, referring to Nelson Mandela’s statue at the Union Buildings.

The province and the Hertzog family had been consulted on replacing the statue of General JBM Hertzog with one of Mandela.

“All stakeholders agreed that Hertzog must make way for Madiba,” she said.

“The Gauteng Heritage Resources Agency consulted the relevant affected stakeholder. In UCT’s case, this would be the Rhodes Foundation.

“Along with this, a 30-day period is needed for public participation, and the various university constituencies need to be consulted.”

Following the consultation process, the university would be able to lodge an application with the regional Heritage Resources Agency, whose experts, with Sahra’s input, would make a decision.

Baduza said Sahra acknowl- edged the frustration of some about the speed at which decisions were made regarding heritage sites.

“We acknowledge that the pace needs to be bettered.”

It was a matter Sahra had to look at critically.

But Baduza pointed out that work was being done, such as the memorials for politicians and activists, JB Marks and Moses Kotane. – ANA