AfriForum opposes several heritage resolutions

22 April 2015

AfriForum is attending the official announcement of the resolutions made on Friday during a meeting of stakeholders on heritage in South Africa. The resolutions have already been distributed electronically. In contrast to what this document portrays, AfriForum and other attendees on Friday opposed several of the resolutions. AfriForum says the process is now being steamrolled to implement the ANC’s own political and anti-Afrikaner agenda, instead of taking well-considered decisions in favour of the balanced portrayal of the country’s past.

AfriForum was represented on Friday right up to the adjournment of the meeting by CEO Kallie Kriel and Deputy CEO Alana Bailey. At the event, AfriForum emphasized that public consultation should take place throughout the country and that heritage features such as statues should not be removed. Instead, heritage organizations should rather determine where public recognition of historical figures is currently lacking. AfriForum is also strongly opposed against the one-sided portrayal of any community or leader of the past as “evil”. The promotion of mutual recognition and respect for diverse opinions about the past is required, history cannot be used to brand communities as scapegoats for the country’s current problems.

The resolutions, which were only discussed after 17:00 when most delegates had already left the meeting, were debated one by one. AfriForum specifically requested that its opposition should be noted in several cases, including regarding the resolution that statues should be put in so-called theme parks of the government and that a list should be compiled, branding Afrikaner leaders unilaterally as oppressors.

According to Bailey, the resolution on the review of heritage legislation is ludicrous, as the authorities currently cannot even comply with existing legislation on heritage conservation. “Nationally, heritage resources such as museums, monuments and sites like historical cemeteries are gradually being destroyed as a result of the authorities’ inability to maintain it. The existing legislation is adequate; it is the capacity to implement it that is lacking. Now that transformation is involved, a sudden revision is considered. It is evident that this is an attempt to enforce the ANC’s one-sided portrayal of the past, in the process polarizing communities to an even larger degree.”

AfriForum will continue to do everything possible to ensure that the past of the country is portrayed in a balanced way. Decisions about future action will depend on the way in which the resolutions will be implemented.

Statement issued by Alana Bailey, Deputy CEO, AfriForum, April 22 2015