South Africa’s unique monuments and statues you HAVE TO see

South Africa’s unique monuments, statues, and memorials serve to remind all of us of the iconic and unforgettable South African figure and events in our country’s rich history. Vistors come from far and wide to admire them and learn more about our diverse heriitage.

STATUES IN NOBEL SQUARE IN CAPE TOWN

The Nobel Square statues in Cape Town honour South Africa’s four Nobel Prize winners who were instrumental in building the free and democratic South Africa we enjoy today. They are Nkosi Albert Luthuli, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, FW de Klerk, and Nelson Mandela. The breathtaking bronze statues created by Claudette Schreuders, reflect the complexities of the search for an African identity. The art installation also features a fifth sculpture in the square, Peace and Democracy, created by Noria Mabasa, acknowledges the contribution of women and children to achieving peace in the country.

VICTORY PEACE ANGEL

HC Fehr’s angel statue was put up in Graaff-Reinet as a symbol of peace after the end of the first World War. The mayor of the town called a public meeting and at this meeting it was decided to erect a monument in honour of the Graaff-Reinet men who had lost their lives in the war. The angel holds in her one outstretched hand a sword, and in the other an olive wreath. She is a representation of reconciliation.

SOUTH AFRICA’S UNIQUE MONUMENTS FOR AFRIKAANS

The Afrikaans Language Monument on Paarl Mountain is a unique journey into the past. Built in 1975 and designed by architect Jan van Wijk, it acknowledges the influence of a variety of languages on the growth of Afrikaans, namely Dutch, Malay, Malay-Portuguese, Arabic, French, German, English, and the indigenous Khoi and African languages.

BRENDA FASSIE SCULPTURE

Built to honour possibly the most famous and iconic musician in the South African history, Brenda Fassie’s bronze sculpture outside the Bassline music venue in Newtown, Johannesburg, is a life-size monument. The scultpture has drawn huge crowds who pose and take pictures next to the musical legend’s statue. The statue depicts Fassie on a barstool with her microphone in front of her. There is an unoccupied barstool next to her, enticing passers-by to take a seat and ‘interact’ with her. Brenda Fassie, dubbed the “Madonna of the Townships,” was an anti-apartheid Afropop singer.