The Tale of the Two Statues in Durban
THE TALE OF THE TWO STATUES IN DURBAN
Compiled by Wolfgang Witschas
Introduction
In the city of Durban in the province of KwaZulu Natal, on the corner of King Dinuzulu Road (formerly Berea Road) and Julius Nyerere Street (formerly Warwick Lane) in the Botha Gardens, opposite the Durban Institute of Technology, stand two statues facing each other. The statue of Zulu King Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo stands opposite to the existing statue of General Louis Botha, which was unveiled on 14 July 1923, depicting this remarkable friendship: one of King Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo and the other of General Louis Botha. This is the same Louis Botha whose statue is now suddenly deemed unwelcome.
Background
King Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Dinuzulu_KaCetshwayo
King Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo
King Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo, born 1868 and died on 18 October 1913, an important figure in the South African struggle against colonialism and British imperialism, was the last king of the Zulus to be officially recognised as such by the British. He reigned during a volatile period in history: when the last armed resistance was launched by indigenous people against the British imperialist forces. In 1890 Dinuzulu was exiled for seven years to the island of St Helena for leading a Zulu army against the British from 1883 to 1884.
During the First Anglo Boer War in1884 he asked the Boers for help during a conflict with chief Zibhebhu kaMaphita. General Botha led a group of Boers known as “Dinuzulu’s Volunteers”, who supported King Dinuzulu against vying successor to the royal throne, Zibhebhu, in 1884.
King Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo was jailed in 1908 for treason, accused of inciting the Bambatha rebellion. His release was ordered by General Botha who became the Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa in 1910. There after, kaCetshwayo was exiled to the farm Uitkyk in the Transvaal where he died in 1913.
The bronze statue of King Dinuzulu Cetshwayo was unveiled in 03 September 2008 by Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini ka Bhekuzulu. Previously there were concerns that the King Dinuzulu statue is lower than that of the General Botha.
King Dinuzulu’s Legacy:
Leadership:
He became king at 16 and led the Zulu nation through a period of colonial turmoil
Resistance:
King Dinuzulu resisted British colonial rule and was involved in several battles
Imprisonment:
He was imprisoned for treason related to the Bambatha Rebellion and later released with the help of General Botha.
Significance:
• The statue honours King Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo (1868–1913), who ruled from 1884 to 1913
• It stands opposite the statue of General Louis Botha, who became prime minister and released Dinuzulu from his four-year prison sentence after the Bambatha Rebellion.
• The placement symbolizes the historical friendship and complex relationship between the two leaders
General Louis Botha
General Louis Botha https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Dinuzulu_KaCetshwayo
The first statue/memorial to Botha erected in South Africa was a statue in the Botha Gardens, between King Dinuzulu Road (formerly Berea Rd) and Julius Nyerere Street (formerly Warwick Lane). The bronze statue, of Botha by Anton van Wouw, weighing 4 tons and standing 5 meters high on a 4.5-meter pedestal, was unveiled by General Jan Smuts on 14 June 1923. The simple plaque reads “Louis Botha 1862–1919.” He is portrayed as slightly larger.
References:
https://www.suninternational.com/sibaya/stories/travel/celebrating-heritage-durbans-most-significant-statues/#:~:text=
The%20statue%20of%20King%Dinuzulu%20st
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinuzulu_KaCetshwayo
