The Symbols We Want: Documenting and Assessing the Impact of Symbols in a Transformative State
Abstract
Context
One of the most challenging problems in South Africa nowadays is how to convince the population and students in particular that historical statues and symbols have a place in the countrys nascent democracy. Although all South Africans are charged with the responsibility of promoting and preserving historical and contemporary statues, the probability of doing this varies among different groups. Significant variables that account for the increasing unease and disproval of historical statues in particular include socio-economic factors such as education and unemployment; institutional factors such as real or institutional bias and racism; and cultural factors such as the unAfrican nature of certain symbols. The effects of these factors varies for different institutions and different communities, but the single most powerful predictor of the protest and destruction of symbols is the slow pace of transformation in certain institutions. The majority of South African youth see historical symbols as a reminder of a system that deprived and robbed them of their future. Accordingly, the ongoing protest and call for total demolition or removal of historical statues seems to be a metaphor for a larger narrative.
Many institutions have attempted, and still, are willing to engage in dialogue with the protesters and students in an effort to end the crisis, and preserve the statues. Common techniques that have been used, include: the removal of the statue of British colonialist, businessman and politician in Southern Africa, Cecil John Rhodes from the University of Cape Town; repeated calls from South African President, Jacob Zuma as well as the Department of Arts and Culture, and the National Heritage Council on students to avoid taking the law into their hands. Moreover, counter-protests have beenmounted by Freedom Front-Plus and controversial Afrikaans singer Steve Hofmeyr, both of whom are seen as beneficiaries of the apartheid system represented by the symbols. While these efforts have had a temporary impact such as in Pretoria where Paul Krugers statue has merely been defaced rather than removed or demolished, it remains doubtful how long this will last. Without follow-through by the government and civil society organisations to put in place sustainable measures for the promotion and preservation of these historical statues, it is highly likely that anti-historical symbols protests may resurface in future. Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema is adamant about the demolition of all colonial statues, arguing in the case of the statue of Louis Botha that he is not our hero and cannot be a hero of a democratic South Africa The statue of Botha outside this Parliament must go down, because it represents nothing of what a democratic South Africa stands for.Recognising that symbols and statues under scrutiny comprise a collection of national and international significance that bears testament to South Africa unique cultural heritage, this project aims to document and analyse the impact of symbols in a transformative state such as South Africa.
The specific objectives are
To document the different categories of statues and symbols, especially those that are at the centre of the current crisis
Document and analyse the ways they affect both those who are protesting and calling for their removal and destruction, and those who oppose these actions.
Document the symbols and statues that both parties want and the reasons for their choices, across institutions and generations.
Determine preventive and corrective actions that can assist in addressing the concerns of both parties and thereby, ensure sustainable promotion and preservation of their various choices for the present and future generations.
