Is Paul Kruger statue taking a walk from Pretoria to Orania?
A replica of the Paul Kruger statue from Pretoria will be placed in Orania next year. However, wouldn’t it be better to relocate the original statue instead?
Next year, a replica of the iconic Paul Kruger statue from Church Square in Pretoria will be installed in Orania, Northern Cape. Given the vandalism the statue has faced over the years, one might wonder if it would be better to simply relocate the original statue to Orania.
Identical replica for Orania
The replica statue will be identical to the one on Pretoria’s Church Square. If everything goes according to plan, the completed statue will be revealed on 10 October 2025. The date will mark the 200-year anniversary of the former president’s birth.
The Pretoria statue of Paul Kruger is a bronze sculpture that depicts Paul Kruger, the Boer political and military leader and President of the South African Republic from 1883 to 1900, and four unnamed Boer soldiers.
Orania as a home for Afrikaners
“The erection of the Kruger statue is symbolic of Afrikaners’ resilience. When people threaten our cultural goods, we make plans to preserve our heritage. What is more, we build a future for us and our own people,” says Pieter Bischoff, head of information at the Orania development company.
Bischoff added that they are building a new home for the Afrikaner in Orania, among other things a
city square where the Afrikaner can meet, socialise, and also generally get together.
More replicas in the pipeline
The new Paul Kruger statue on a new town square in Orania will be accompanied by replicas of historical buildings, including the Old Council Chamber and also the Palace of Justice.
Markedly, volunteers all over South Africa and from abroad have already donated over R600 000 for the project.
“The preservation and survival of our cultural heritage lie in our own hands.”
Pieter Bischoff
Vandalism to statues in Pretoria over the years
The Paul Kruger statue has seen its fair share of vandalism over the years. In 2015, vandals threw dark green paint on the four burghers of the monument. In 2016, people attempted to set fire to it. Members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) political party spraypainted the words ‘Killer Killer’ in red on the statue in 2020. In 2023, vandals tore off and stole the copper memorial tablet from the statues.
Many people are asking whether it would be better to move the existing statues to Orania. However, the current condition of the statues makes it problematic to move them. Furthermore, many people may object to moving a statue from its historical context.