Right-wingers responsible for defacing Kruger – mayor

This comes after sculptures of two sentries at the statue of Paul Kruger on Church Square were painted green on Monday, Rekord East reported.

Tshwane mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa said his administration was looking at all possibilities surrounding the incident.

“We have not ruled out that this could have been a deliberate action by members of right wing organisations as a means of inciting anger and fear in the Voortrekker and Afrikaner communities,” he said in a statement.

“We believe right wing political organisations must accept partial responsibility for the reaction of our communities on these issues. It is the actions and utterances of these organisations that… stretch [people’s] tolerance and reconciliatory mood,” he added.

The vandalism occurred at a time when a part of the fence surrounding the statue was cut open to allow people to take pictures next to it, the mayor said.

In April, parts of the Paul Kruger statue were painted green following calls for its removal.

Two of the four bronze sentries beneath the statue of the Transvaal Republic president were covered in bright green paint. The raised figure of Kruger was largely left untouched.

Ramokgopa said statues represented a critical part of history and should be protected. “They do not only contribute towards ongoing learning for younger and future generations but economic vitality as points of attraction to local and international tourists,” said Ramokgopa.

A CCTV camera reportedly captured Monday’s act of vandalism and the footage will be handed over to the police for investigation.

– Caxton News Service