Last Friday saw the unveiling of a statue of 19th century Zulu king, Cetshwayo ka Mpande. The statue of King Cetshwayo stands proudly alongside those of the amaHlubi king, Langalibalele, Bapedi king, Sekhukhune, and the Khoisan freedom fighter, Doman. All four statues were unveiled as part of the 350-year commemoration of the Castle of Good Hope, which played an integral part of the colonial government’s exploits during the 17th and 18th century.
While the statues represent the men as dignified and powerful leaders, at one point all four of these men were kept as prisoners in the castle as result of their fight against land dispossession.
Delegates from the amaZulu, amaHlubi and BaPedi royal houses, as well as from the Khoisan leadership in the Western Cape, joined in officiating at the unveiling ceremony.