AfriForum took it upon themselves to clean the Cecil John Rhodes statue, which was painted in December. Picture: Sandi Kwon Hoo
CONTROVERSIAL artist Tshepo Tlhalogang, who spearheaded the painting of the Cecil John Rhodes statue in Du Toitspan Road, has called for all colonial statues in Kimberley to be removed and stored at a museum.
This follows after AfriForum took it upon themselves to scrub the clay and graffiti off the statue, using their own scaffolding and volunteers.
A “Reclaiming Space: Awakening Social Sessions” performance was held at the statue on December 4, 2024, during which a sheet was draped over the statue’s head. The legs and belly of the horse were painted to symbolise the “bloodshed of communities at the hands of colonialists”.
AfriForum cultural co-ordinator Marius Nagel said a special chemical was used as they struggled to remove all traces of the paint.
“While the clay is water-based, it took a lot of elbow grease to remove everything,” he said.
Nagel added that the performance organisers were given until December 20 to restore the statue to its original condition.
“This deadline has long passed and while meetings were scheduled by the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), no action has been taken. The statue is part of the history of the city and a national and international tourist attraction. Everybody was complaining that it was turned into an eyesore and no one was doing anything about it.”
He said they had not requested permission from Sol Plaatje Municipality to clean the statue as the perimeter fence around the statue was unlocked and vagrants were sleeping around the monument.
Tlhalogang has meanwhile dismissed the threats of legal action reportedly considered by SAHRA as “empty promises”.
“We were given permission by Sol Plaatje Municipality for the use of the premises. The paint was going to come off on its own. The painting of the statue coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Rhodes Must Fall campaign,” said Tlhalogang.
He recommended that all colonial statues in the city be removed and stored at the McGregor Museum.
“The contributions of so many Struggle icons should rather be celebrated. A statue of Kgosi Galeshewe can be erected in the place of Cecil John Rhodes, who is a symbol of oppression.”
Tlhagolang added that they were planning another initiative this year to influence the way communities viewed art and to bring about social change.
SAHRA could not be reached for comment.
Sol Plaatje Municipality refrained from responding to media enquiries, including whether the artists would have access to more venues in the future to unleash their artistic expressions.
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