The National Heritage Council of Namibia has received thousands of submissions by those who are against the de-proclamation of the Reiterdenkmal as a national monument.
The deadline for submissions was yesterday evening.
The German Cultural Council handed over a total of 2 196 submissions, which they had received from the public yesterday.
However, the National Heritage Council did not want to divulge the total number of submissions they had received by late yesterday, as the cut-off time was 17:00.
They issued a public notice on December 20 saying they will submit a recommendation on the statue’s de-proclamation to the Minister of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture, Jerry Ekandjo.
“It is proposed that this statue should be de-proclaimed and kept inside the courtyard of the Alte Feste as an ordinary historical object,” the notice read.
The Reiterdenkmal was since removed from public view on Christmas night and placed at the back of the Alte Feste.
The public had 60 days to submit recommendations and object to the statue’s de-proclamation.
National Heritage Council director Salomon April said the submissions received will be recorded and then studied by the council to determine what decision should be taken.
He said that the merit and the content of all submissions will have to be taken into account, and if the council decides that they want to hear people’s reasons in person, a hearing can also be called.
Depending on this, and if hearings are called, it can take some time before a decision is taken by the council and a recommendation is made to the minister, April said.
He said he did not want to speculate on what the possible recommendation by the council would be.
The council’s chairperson Esther Mwoombola-/Goagoses told Namibian Sun that the council will have to see how many submissions were made by the public, and depending on how many were in favour and against the de-proclamation, a decision will be made by the council and a recommendation given to the minister.
According to the notice issued last year, the Reiterdenkmal lost its political significance three years after its erection, when the Union of South Africa was given control of the then South-West Africa in 1915.
“In addition to that Namibia won the long liberation struggle for independence, hence the loss of the historical significance and importance of the equestrian statue,” the notice read.
The deadline for submissions was yesterday evening.
The German Cultural Council handed over a total of 2 196 submissions, which they had received from the public yesterday.
However, the National Heritage Council did not want to divulge the total number of submissions they had received by late yesterday, as the cut-off time was 17:00.
They issued a public notice on December 20 saying they will submit a recommendation on the statue’s de-proclamation to the Minister of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture, Jerry Ekandjo.
“It is proposed that this statue should be de-proclaimed and kept inside the courtyard of the Alte Feste as an ordinary historical object,” the notice read.
The Reiterdenkmal was since removed from public view on Christmas night and placed at the back of the Alte Feste.
The public had 60 days to submit recommendations and object to the statue’s de-proclamation.
National Heritage Council director Salomon April said the submissions received will be recorded and then studied by the council to determine what decision should be taken.
He said that the merit and the content of all submissions will have to be taken into account, and if the council decides that they want to hear people’s reasons in person, a hearing can also be called.
Depending on this, and if hearings are called, it can take some time before a decision is taken by the council and a recommendation is made to the minister, April said.
He said he did not want to speculate on what the possible recommendation by the council would be.
The council’s chairperson Esther Mwoombola-/Goagoses told Namibian Sun that the council will have to see how many submissions were made by the public, and depending on how many were in favour and against the de-proclamation, a decision will be made by the council and a recommendation given to the minister.
According to the notice issued last year, the Reiterdenkmal lost its political significance three years after its erection, when the Union of South Africa was given control of the then South-West Africa in 1915.
“In addition to that Namibia won the long liberation struggle for independence, hence the loss of the historical significance and importance of the equestrian statue,” the notice read.
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