THE Strijdom monument in Pretoria has collapsed dramatically into parking garages beneath the square in which it sat. The cave-in, according to 702 radio news, occurred at around 4.30am on Thursday morning. Rescue units from around Gauteng, including dog units, are on the scene. But so far, the number of trapped victims or deaths, if any, remains uncertain. Two homeless people sheltering in the parking garage were slightly injured. The reason for the collapse is not known. Adjacent structures are being checked for damage. The massive plinth was topped by a huge bust of Hans Strijdoms, who was prime minister of apartheid South Africa from 1955-1958. The bust appears to have broken in half, according to reports. Strijdom’s memory is now most prominent in addresses.