A critique of the spoliation of the ridges of the capital city of South Africa

Abstract

Pretoria, the capital city of South Africa, is discussed in terms of the detrimental effect of monuments and the monumentalising of structures of ideological significance built on its surrounding ridges, which more than any other natural assets, define its sense of place and influenced the original urban conceptualisation. The discussion of existing monuments and other structures which are indifferent to its sense of place will be followed by a brief discussion of Freedom Park, the most recent addition, which is a government project sponsored by the ruling African National Congress party, which has recently been completed on Salvokop at the main southern entrance to the city. The survey of the monuments, military and other structures lead to the conclusion that their creation was mainly inspired by ideologies on which the ruling political powers wished to bestow visibility by erecting them on elevated sites.

'n KRITIESE BESKOUING OOR DIE SKADE AAN DIE RANTJIES IN DIE HOOFSTAD VAN SUID-AFRIKA: Pretoria, die hoofstad van Suid-Afrika, word bespreek in terme van die nadelige effek van die oprigting van monumente en die monumentalisering van strukture van ideologiese belang op die omringende rantjies wat, meer as enige ander natuurlike bates, die pleksin daarvan bepaal en ook die oorspronklike stedelike konseptualisering beïnvloed het. Die bespreking van bestaande monumente en ander strukture wat sonder inagneming van pleksin opgerig is, word gevolg deur =n kort bespreking van Freedom Park, die mees onlangse byvoeging, =n regeringsprojek wat deur die heersende African National Congress-party op Salvokop by die suidelike hoofingang van die stad opgerig is. Die opname van monumente, militêre en ander strukture lei tot die gevolgtrekking dat hulle ontstaan hoofsaaklik geïnspireer is deur ideologieë waaraan die heersende politieke bewindhebbers sigbaarheid wou verleen deur hulle op hoë plekke op te rig.