Question NW3052 to the Minister of Arts and Culture

Reply:

 

REPLY:

(a)(i &ii). My department does not have any information on the erection of the statue of Leabua Jonathan in front of the building currently known as the Medfontein building in Bloemfontein, the department will contact the Provincial department requesting the said information and will forward it to parliament as soon as it is received from my counterpart (MEC) in the Provincial department.

It should, however, be noted that the decision to rename Medfontein Building after LeabuaJonathan was taken by the Mangaung Municipality, and that the national department of Arts and Culture did not play any role on that matter.

Furthermore, it should be noted that buildings within municipalities are managed by the said Municipality, hence, it is therefore within the relevant municipalities’ authority and responsibility to decide on the erection of the statue within its locality.

(b)(c)(d). My department has not been informed of the details of public consultations that took place prior to the decision to erect the statue of Leabua Jonathan in front of the building currently known as the Medfontein building in Bloemfontein, as well as the costs and budget thereof as this falls within the Mangaung Municipality.

The democracy and freedom we enjoy today was not only made possible by the efforts of South Africans alone. Our struggle was a humane struggle supported by progressive global community. Countries from the Southern African Development Community in particular paid the heaviest price. These countries were destabilized, their economies sabotaged and their territorial integrity violated on a number of occasions by the apartheid government.

To honour them in this manner amongst others, is a way of showing our appreciation to the contributions they have made in our struggle for freedom.