Orania celebrates Paul Kruger's legacy with grand statue unveiling on bicentennial birthday

IN A VIBRANT display of cultural pride and historical reverence, more than 2,000 Afrikaners gathered in the self-sustaining town of Orania on October 10 to unveil a towering bronze statue of Paul Kruger, the iconic statesman and former president of the Zuid-Afrikaans Republiek (ZAR). The event marked the 200th anniversary of Kruger's birth, transforming the town's central square into a beacon of communal hope and enduring identity.

The ceremony, infused with speeches, music, and symbolism, honoured Kruger as the embodiment of the Afrikaner quest for freedom. Orania mayor Lida Strydom led the unveiling, invoking the stirring lines from the 'Orania Roepstem': "A free people has risen on the road to Orania." The statue, a precise replica of the one gracing Pretoria's Church Square, stands an imposing 10 metres tall, including its pedestal, and weighs 1.5 tons, overlooking the Orania city square as a permanent sentinel.

Symbolically handed over by Dr Danie Langner, CEO of the Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniginge (FAK), to Riaan Jacobs, chairperson of the Orania Representative Council, the monument was celebrated not just as art, but as a living declaration. "For Jacobs and the Orania community, this monument is a beacon of future hope and responsibility, but also a statement that we are here and our Afrikanerness lives," organisers said.

Speakers throughout the day underscored Kruger's profound symbolic resonance in Orania, a town founded on principles of Afrikaner self-determination. Langner opened the handover with poignant words: "We stand today at Kruger as the symbol of a new beginning." He reflected on the statue's symbolic journey from the Voortrekker Monument through various towns to Orania, a pilgrimage that has "opened a new path in the hearts of Afrikaners" by reuniting the people around Kruger's enduring message.

The programme wove in insightful discussions on Orania's growth and broader revival. Frans de Klerk, executive head of the Orania Development Company, outlined plans for the revitalised town centre, with Kruger at its heart. "This is about revival, not just of the Kruger monument, but of the Afrikaner people," De Klerk remarked.

Hannes Noëth, executive head of Solidariteit Helpende Hand, delivered a greeting on behalf of the Kruger Society, emphasising forward momentum: "The powerful message is onward in our striving for freedom."

Funding the monument was a nationwide effort by Afrikaners, achieved through the sale of symbolic stones, each engraved with the buyer's name for posterity. Dr John Strydom, chairperson of the Orania Movement, presented the collected funds to the town's City Building Fund, highlighting the grassroots spirit of the project.

Joost Strydom, executive head of the Orania Movement, captured the event's deeper significance: "For the Orania Movement, the relocation of the Kruger monument to Orania is symbolically very important, firstly, because Uncle Paul stands among his people again, and secondly, because Orania supporters and contributors made it possible to erect the monument. The project came from the people, the nation, and everyone who contributed. Heartfelt welcome to Uncle Paul and to every person who today is also an Oranian at heart."

The festivities peaked with cultural performances: Singer Ruhan du Toit delivered his hit 'Monumentaal', followed by a community choir rendition of the 'Orania Roepstem'. Attendees like Cara Tomlinson, FAK cultural representative in the Northern Cape, shared personal reflections on the day's impact. "For me, this was a proud and grateful moment. Our people have come home and are united again in Orania," she said. "I walk away from the new square today with more courage, more strength, and more zeal to build. I am thankful for God-fearing national leaders like Paul Kruger, in whose footsteps we can follow."

As the formal proceedings concluded, the celebrations continued into the evening with roaring bonfires, a carnival procession themed "Our Heritage", and another set from du Toit featuring his biggest hits. The event not only commemorated Kruger's legacy but also reinforced Orania's role as a hub for Afrikaner cultural preservation and self-reliance.

For many, the unveiling signals a chapter of renewal, echoing Kruger's own life of republican ambition and faith-driven resolve. As Orania looks ahead, the statue stands as both a tribute to the past and an inspiration for the future.

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