When we recently wrote a letter to the Tshwane Metro Council requesting guidance on submitting an application to dress the statue of Nelson Mandela in Voortrekker attire as a response to the covering of the Paul Kruger statue in tinfoil, a variety of responses were received from people all over the world.
The two most popular responses were:
- They will never even reply
- They will never allow this.
But of course they won’t – and we knew that.
We have not received a formal response from them, in fact, we had to read about it in the paper. And obviously the response was the expected one of double standards and blatant discrimination against the culture and custom of the Afrikaner people.
Let me reply to that then:
In the second paragraph of the article quoted below, it is said: “…a tit-for-tat response…” We gladly acknowledge the admission that the desecration of statues of Afrikaner/Boer leaders by covering them in tinfoil, as is the case here, or by painting them pink as was the case with genl De Wet, is nothing more than “tat” by the authorities. It has no purpose but to humiliate and discriminate and provoke. We have had enough. We feed you your own medicine, and quite obviously your hate to be in that chair!
It is further stated that the “…foil will be easily removed without leaving any trace…” You are missing the point altogether. As little as any physical damage could be done by dressing Mandela’s statue in Voortrekker attire, as little are we concerned about the physical damage done by tinfoil to oom Paul. But the real damage has been done – the slap in the face of the people represented by oom Paul and genl De Wet and the people who live by their values, has been given. And you can never take that back.
“Tshwane officials have described the political party’s intentions as provocation of the highest order and an insult to Madiba and South Africans.” We understand your approach, as illogical as it is, completely. Thank you. Your “democracy” therefore gives the OK for an insult to South Africans who built this city, who made such an immense contribution to this country…who in fact, made of Pretoria what it is. It is OK to insult them, but oh no! let them not speak a word that might be perceived as an insult to authority! How ever typical of freedom and rights in the perspective of the New South Africa. What a fine democracy with its so-called freedom of expression you have…
And by saying that Front National’s request is and insult to South Africans, can we gather that Afrikaners and Boers are no longer regarded as South Africans, since they apparently have no right to feel insulted? We need a little clarification here, please?
In reference to the removal of the statue of genl JBM Hertzog to make space for Mandela, it is justified with “He was moved with the blessing of his descendants.” Did his descendants put up the statue? Was the statue standing on their property? No, it was put up by a government elected by a nation representing them at a sight which was of historical value to them…and were they asked for an opinion? Not that I can recall, I’m afraid. There is no justification for that action.
Blessing Manale, Tshwane mayoral spokesman, then said “Front National has not even engaged the metro on Afrikaner culture and heritage.”
Engaging is defined by the Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (Houghton Mifflin Publishers 1987 Boston) as : “The act of obtaining and holding attention, engross, to interlock, to entangle or involve someone in…”
Blessing (which you are not, at the moment to the Afrikaner/Boer people) – we have written a letter to you in asking your guidance on how to go about in expressing Afrikaner culture and heritage and we made a proposal. The letter was extensively quoted in the social media. Would you not call such a letter an “engagement” by the above quoted definition? And if not, what would you call it? And if you admit that it can be regarded as an engagement, kindly admit that you’re talking utter nonsense here as well.
Blessing also unilaterally decided that “Dressing it (the Mandela statue) up, will not be in the best interest of the city, nation and tourists.” How far we have fallen when a city council spokesperson has the authority to decide what is in the best interest of not only a city, but of and entire nation…and wait for this: Of the citizens of other countries as well! One can but lift your eyes to the heavens above!
I thank you and your mayor, Blessing, for giving us the satisfaction of what we wished to prove:
- When it comes to the different cultures and heritages of our country, there is a set of double standards – as long as the Afrikaner/Boer culture can be degraded and humiliated and trampled upon, all is well. But the Black culture is untouchable and superior in your opinion. You know what the word is that you use for such an approach in a multicultural society? You call it “apartheid.” You are recreating apartheid and you are proving it!
- An insult to the Afrikaner/Boer people is apparently in the interest of Pretoria, the nation and tourists, but the perceived reverse is not true. How subjective your arguments!
- The Tshwane Metro Council and the entire spirit of the governing bodies in the New South Africa is disgustingly racist. Nothing more to say about it.
We await your guidance on how we are going about the arrange the dressing of the statue. Alternatively, we await your written apology for the insult given to the Afrikaner/Boer people by messing about with our heritage.
By Daniel Lötter (Front National South Africa)
Original News Report:
Pretoria – Former President Nelson Mandela’s giant statue at the Union Buildings will be dressed in traditional Voortrekker attire on the anniversary of his death – if the Front National has its way.
In a tit-for-tat response to the covering of the statue of Paul Kruger at Church Square in silver foil, Front National wants to dress Madiba’s statue in honour of the Boer culture.
The bronze statue of Kruger has been wrapped until November 16 as part of the Cool Capital Biennale.
The foil will easily be removed without leaving any trace.
The Front National has applied to the City of Tshwane for permission to dress Madiba’s statue in a Voortrekker dress and bonnet from December 1 to 16.
Front National spokesman Francois Cloete said dressing up Madiba would be a symbolic recognition of the customs and culture of the Voortrekkers and their descendants as part of the “so-called” Rainbow Nation.
However, Tshwane officials have described the political party’s intentions as a provocation of the highest order and an insult to Madiba and South Africans.
Cloete said the application was made in the light of the new trend to misuse statues of famous Boer leaders.
He said an example was in Bloemfontein where the statue of Christiaan de Wet was made up in pink for a festival.
“We decided to challenge these double standards,” Cloete said.
“December 16 is Reconciliation Day and the Day of the Vow. We want to raise awareness of the Day of the Vow by dressing the statue of Mandela in the traditional dress of the Voortrekker.”
The statue of the late Madiba incidentally replaced that of a former Afrikaner leader, Cloete said.
The spot housed the statue of former Prime Minister JBM Hertzog, who led the government from 1924 to 1939.
He was moved with the blessing of his decedents
The statue was unveiled by President Jacob Zuma on the Day of Reconciliation last December to mark the end of the official 10-day mourning period for the much loved former state president, who died at his Johannesburg home on December 5.
Tshwane mayoral spokesman Blessing Manale said they did not consider the application to be a genuine response to the wrapping of the statue of Oom Paul.
Front National has not even engaged the metro on Afrikaner culture and heritage, Manale said.
He added Tshwane recognised the statue of Kruger as an important historical element of the city.
“We have a responsibility to promote Mandela’s statue as a tourism destination.
“Dressing it up will not be in the best interest of the city, nation and tourists.
“While the statue is not within our jurisdiction, we will not support the application and will advise the presidency and the Department of Arts and Culture not to entertain the request,” Manale said.Cloete added the party was awaiting urgent instruction from the Tshwane municipality on how to go about arranging the planned dressing up of Madiba’s stature.
“If the request is denied we would like to hear valid reasons because this will expose double standards by the City of Tshwane and definite racism towards descendants of the Voortrekker,” added Cloete.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
