Pretoria – Government has expressed its concern on the various acts of vandalism of statues and other monuments in the country.
“These actions of vandalism are contrary to the principles of the Constitution and also constitute a criminal act,” Minister of Defence Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said.
Minister Mapisa-Nqakula briefed the media on Tuesday as the chairperson of the Justice, Crime and Security Cluster (JCPS) on security and stability issues relating to attacks on foreign nationals, vandalism of national monuments and illegal land invasions.
Minister Mapisa-Nqakula said there were laws in place that regulate the removal and preservation of any undesirable historic monument.
“The National Heritage Resources Act of 1999 outlines the consultative processes that should be followed in the case of a removal or relocation of a statue,” she said.
Minister Mapisa-Nqakula said the destruction of statues was illegal and government would not turn a blind eye to any crime.
“Destruction of any property is a criminal offence and those that are involved will face the full might of the law,” she said.
On Friday, the statue of former British monarch Queen Victoria, which stands in front of the main Nelson Mandela Bay library in the city centre, was vandalised.
The statue of Mahatma Gandhi, which is located in Johannesburg’s Gandhi Square, was also vandalised on Sunday.
Recently the Paul Kruger statue was vandalised in Church Square, Pretoria. Kruger's bronze statue had lime green paint splashed over it.
Last week, the statue of Cecil Rhodes was removed from the University of Cape Town following students’ protests that demanded the removal of the statue.
Threat of radicalisation of South African youth
Minister Mapisa-Nqakula said the JCPS Cluster would not allow South Africans to be used as a recruitment platform for terror groups.
She said agencies of the JCPS Cluster recently rescued a 15-year-old Cape Town teenager from potential recruitment into an international terror organisation.
The agencies of the cluster worked closely with the teenager’s parents.
“We encourage the community at large and parents in particular to exercise caution and be concerned about any activities in which their children may be involved.
“Parents should make an extra effort to monitor their children’s online activities,” Minister Mapisa-Nqakula said. – SAnews.gov.za
