The grave of Paul Kruger after it was vandalised. (Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniginge)
Paul Kruger: Grave of former president of Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek vandalized
A clear message to the Afrikaner community as the grave of Paul Kruger, the former president of Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek, has been vandalized in Pretoria.
The grave of Paul Kruger after it was vandalised. (Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniginge)
With so much unrest in South Africa, the last thing this country needs is acts of ignorance and this manner of destruction. The grave of Paul Kruger, the former president of Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek also referred to as the Transvaal Republic has been vandalized.
Where is the grave of Paul Kruger located?
Located in Heroes’ Acre, Pretoria, Paul Kruger’s grave’s bronze bust has been targeted by unidentified vagrants. The Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniginge (FAK) has voiced their condemnation of the act.
According to Danie Langer, who is the managing director of FAK, it was not the first time the grave was purposefully damaged. Also, he expressed the discontent that he and FAK felt towards the vagrants behind these acts.
Members of FAK voice their discontent with the act
In 1995, vandalism of a marble statue caused extensive damage to the rest of the important structure. The cracks are still visible through the etched message. The statue was replaced with the current bronze one.
Langer has said that the targeting of Afrikaner heritage something that is most certainly is worrying:
“Despite the Department of Arts and Culture’s view that statues and monuments should not be damaged, the political will to stop the vandalism of Afrikaner heritage remains lacking.”
He continued by saying that one of the results of the lack of protection of Afrikaner heritage places more significant pressure on cultural organisations to intervene, with limited funds, to restore and secure Afrikaners’ historical legacy.
Heroes’ Acre houses the graves of many historical figures, like Prince Christian Victor, who was the grandson of Queen Victoria. It also serves as a resting place for the graves of many Afrikaner figures including former prime ministers Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd, Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom and General Louis Botha.
Some other Afrikaner historic people like Jopie Fourie, Andries Pretorius and Afrikaans poet Eugène Marais are also buried in Heroes’ Acre.
