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16 August 2018

Public consultation on MT Steyn statue begins with exhibition

8 July 2018

Introduction

In line with the UFS Strategic Plan 2018-2022 and the Integrated Transformation Plan (ITP), the University of the

Free State (UFS) strives to distinguish itself as an institution that will pursue the delivery of excellent quality graduates and knowledge of the region, the continent, and the globe through academic excellence, diversity, inclusivity, and through innovative and transformative thought. The ITP shows the commitment of the UFS to widen the scope and radically accelerate transformation at the university.

One of the work streams of the ITP is concerned with Names, Symbols, and Spaces. Topical at the moment is the review of the MT Steyn statue, which is situated in front of the Main Building on the Bloemfontein Campus. A public exhibition during the Vrystaat Arts Festival ensured that the review process and the statue itself remains the topic of informed intellectual conversations during the time allotted for public consultation regarding this statue.

 

What is the university doing?

Public exhibition to keep the MT Steyn statue topical
To contribute to the special task team’s purpose of keeping the statue topical while its current position is under review, and to demonstrate the start of the public participation process, an exhibition consisting of a reflective triangular column has been erected in front of the statue during June/July 2018 that will effectively edit the statue out of its power position if viewed from the east along the main axis from the City of Bloemfontein. Other components are a suggestion box in which comments about the position of the statue can be deposited, and a group of encircling concrete benches.

To elevate engagement and solicit comments from the university community, visitors to the campus, and other interested parties, questions appear on the smooth boards of the reflective column, each linked to its own unique QR Code with audio-format questions (see related questions below).
Send your email responses to news@ufs.ac.za.

 

Why are we doing this?

Read more about the reasons the UFS is undertaking this step in the abridged Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA).

What is a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA)?
A Heritage Impact Assessment is a study to determine the impact of a proposed development on the cultural-heritage value of a property and to recommend an overall approach to the conservation of the heritage resource. In other words, the main aim is to promote heritage conservation—a meticulous process comprising prescribed steps.
The HIA of the MT Steyn statue included the following:
  • Surveying, identifying, and independently analysing the heritage issues relating to the statue in its immediate and broader physical context.
  • Assessing the significance of the MT Steyn statue as a cultural resource as set out in Section 6(2) or prescribed under Section 7 of the NHRA (National Heritage Resources Act).
  • Assessing the impact on the heritage resource based on the four possible modes of intervention at the statue, namely: avoidance, removal, relocation or re-interpretation, or some combination thereof.
  • Assessing the sustainable heritage significance and social benefits of the proposed interventions.
What is the significance of the site where the MT Steyn statue is situated?
The MT Steyn statue is situated in front of the Main Building on the Bloemfontein Campus of the UFS. The building was completed in 1909 and is a registered provincial heritage site.

The statue forms part of the ‘Presidentsplein’ that was dedicated/completed in 1984. However, the name chosen to commemorate both Presidents MT Steyn and CR Swart (removed after the student protests during February 2016) never took hold, and the open space is known as the ‘Rooiplein’ or ‘Red Square’.

 

Why is an HIA needed for the President Steyn statue?

Besides being situated on a registered provincial heritage site, the statue can be considered as public art and a monument celebrating the life and work of MT Steyn – it is also one of the finest sculptures produced by Anton van Wouw. 

However, over time, statues can lose their initial meaning and can become associated with cultural and political issues. In the case of Steyn, many current students associate him with negative concepts such as colonialism, institutionalised racism, and white supremacy, among others. Therefore, we should consider a suitable conservation plan with strategies to either retain, remove, relocate, or re-interpret the statue and assess the heritage impact associated with each of these intervention options. Both the MT Steyn statue and the site where it is situated are bound by certain heritage considerations.

 Description: Layout Diagram of All Elements of Ensemble

A floor-plan of the public participation
exhibition around the statue.

 

History of MT Steyn

Read more about who MT Steyn was here: http://bit.ly/WhoWasMTSteyn

 

History of the statue

Learn more about why the statue was erected by reading this snippet from the HIA: http://bit.ly/MTSteynStatueHist

 

 Description: Statue Tags: Statue

 

 


Description: Main building with statue Tags: Main building with statue 
Artist's rendition of the Reflective Column in place

More articles:
 
Questions
To elevate engagement and solicit comments from the university community, visitors to the campus, and other interested parties, the following questions appear on the smooth boards of the reflective column, each linked to its own unique QR Code with audio-format questions (see questions below).
Send your email responses to news@ufs.ac.za.		 

 

 

Who was President Marthinus Theunis Steyn?


Why is the statue standing here?

 

How is the statue connected to the UFS?

 

Is this statue still relevant in the current socio-political context?

 

What is the challenge of the statue's current position, particularly its prominence in the transforming socio-political milieu?

 

Should the statue stay where it is, and if not, what alternative space will serve the MT Steyn statue's heritage narrative best?

 

What was the role of MT Steyn in the South African War?

Why does your opinion matter?

How does participating in this consultation make you feel?

 

 

 


News Archive

Khayalami residence launches first in-house library
2016-04-21

Description: 2016 KL News Khayalami library Tags: Khayalami residence launches first in-house library in the country
Bongani Mtotoba (left) and Sinoxolo Gcilitshana (right) at the first-ever 24 hour in-house library at Khayalami residence. The librarian and Deputy Residence Head respectively hope to revive the culture of reading on our Bloemfontein Campus.
Photo: Valentino Ndaba

“It is said that reading means to the brain what exercise means to the body. For that reason, we want to bring back the culture of reading to our students who are, after all, the future replacement of the leadership of our wounded and broken country,” said Sinoxolo Gcilitshana, Deputy Residence Head, and Prime of Khayalami.

Titles such as A Life Ever Lasting by Miranda Hearn, To Live Free by William Wilberforce, Powers of Darkness Powers of Light by John Cornwell, and Character Counts by Charles Dyer are among the 228 inspirational books on the shelves of Khayalami residence’s library. Tuesday 12 April 2016 was a proud moment for the residence as it launched the first library in the country located within a university residence on the Bloemfontein Campus of the University of the Free State.

Last year, Dimpho Jasa, a resident at Khayalami, approached Sinoxolo, who then held the Residence Committee (RC): Academics portfolio, with an idea of forming a book club. Sinoxolo had suggested that a library be established in order to make the book club sustainable. That conversation served as a foundation of the 24 hour in-house library.

“We started with five books last year,” said Sinoxolo, “and ever since we sent the message out, the Vice-Chancellor and Rector, Prof Jonathan Jansen has been supporting us together with the Vice-Rector, Prof Nicky Morgan, as well as the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Prof Sechaba Mahlomaholo, and the Head of the Department of English, Prof Helene Strauss.”  

Now, more than 170 young men have access to a growing library that is expected to hold 1500 books by September, when Sinoxolo steps down as the Prime. According to Bongani Mtotoba, the RC: Academics and librarian, some residents have made pledges to help expand the collection. “The response has been quite positive from the guys,” he said.

Borrowers are required to submit a book review upon returning the book. This feedback will be compiled by the English Department into a book available to the public.

Khayalami’s pioneering spirit has also seen the residence run a successful writing competition in 2015. It has since been introduced to the rest of the East College, and now will take place annually.  

For more information on how to donate books or enter the writing completion, contact Sinoxolo on 0783332203 or semsinoxolo@hotmail.com.

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