The remnants of a Great Trek memorial destroyed in Standerton last year are still to be returned, the Democratic Alliance said on Tuesday.
”We still do not have it. I am awaiting word from the municipal manager,” said DA provincial councillor Rosier de Ville on Tuesday afternoon.
The memorial, comprising a large concrete slab with ox-wagon tracks, was destroyed at the instruction of Lekwa mayor Queen Radebe-Khumalo.
”The part forming the floor of the memorial has been broken into 27 pieces while the engraved granite stone has been scratched,” De Ville said.
He said he was expecting the memorial ”sometime this week” from the municipal manager.
”I will then collect it from the municipal manager and take it for safe keeping.”
The matter was heard in Pretoria’s Palace of Justice last month after the Standerton Action Committee, De Ville and AfriForum brought an application against the Lekwa municipality and the mayor.
They asked the court to rule that Radebe-Khumalo be ordered to rebuild the memorial.
On October 30, the opposing parties reached a settlement that was made an order of the court. This provided for the municipality to be liable for the repair costs up to an amount an R10 000. The municipality was also ordered to pay the legal cost of the applicants.
The court ruled that the rebuilding process be done under the guidance of the Provincial Heritage Resources Authority of Mpumalanga. – Sapa