Anglo Boer War Memorial - Paarl Tourism Center
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At the foot of Paarl Mountain, beneath the Afrikaans Language Monument, is a monument unique to the Western Cape.
It is the Anglo Boer War (“ABW”) Monument which focuses on the struggle of the Cape Afrikaners, and other Colonists who actively supported, or were sympathetic to, the Transvaal and Free State republics in the ABW (1899-1902).
It is a place of quiet contemplation where the harm and suffering which our forebears had to withstand during the ABW may be remembered: about the principles of Freedom and Justice, and those who fought for it.
The main elements of the monument are a life size man and woman facing each other. The relief panels depict their war experiences. The sculptures symbolise the universal human right principles of Freedom and Justice, a notion important to especially the people of the 21st century. Visitors may quietly move through the monument, sit and contemplate the war, and in this way become physically and emotionally involved with the monument.
The male figure represents the Rebel. He revolted against the injustice that his blood brothers in the republics had to endure. Later also against the oppression in the Cape Colony. The granite panels behind him are symbolic of the impenetrable restrictions of the merciless, cold Martial Law with which the British badly disrupted the Rebel’s humanity and threatened his survival. Through superior numbers and weaponry he was driven helplessly into a corner.
The female figure is symbolic of the resolute woman as pillar of strength in her family and for her nation: of her perseverance, steadfastness, wisdom and spiritual strength.
May this never happen again!
Aan die voet van die Paarlberg, reg onder die Afrikaanse Taalmonument, is ’n monument enig in sy soort in die Wes-Kaap. Dit is die ABO-Monument wat fokus op die stryd van die Kaapse Afrikaners, en ander Kolonialers, wat in die Anglo-Boereoorlog (1899-1902) die republieke van Transvaal en die Vrystaat aktief gesteun het of dit simpatiek gesind was. Dit is ’n besoekplek van stille bepeinsing waar bedink kan word watter leed en swaarkry ons voorouers in die ABO moes deurstaan: oor die beginsels van Vryheid en Reg en oor diegene wat daarvoor gestry het.
Die hoofelemente van die Monument is ‘n lewensgroot man en vrou wat teenoor mekaar staan. Die reliëfpanele beeld hul oorlogservarings uit. Die beelde versinnebeeld die universele menseregte-beginsel van Vryheid en Reg, ’n begrip wat veral vir die mense van die 21ste eeu belangrik is. Besoekers kan rustig deur die monument beweeg, sit en die oorlog bepeins, en sodoende fisiek en emosioneel by die monument betrek word.
Die manlike figuur beeld die Rebel uit. Hy het in opstand gekom teen die onreg wat sy bloedbroers in die Republieke moes verduur; later ook teen verdrukking in die Kaapkolonie self. Die granietpanele agter hom is simbolies van die ondeurdringbare beperkings van die genadelose, koue Krygswet waarmee die Britte die Rebel se menswees erg ontwrig het, en sy voorbestaan bedreig is. Deur die oormag soldate en krygstuig is hy magteloos in ’n hoek gedryf.
Die vroulike figuur is simbolies van die onwrikbare vrou as steunpilaar in haar gesin en vir haar volk: van haar deursettingsvermoë, standvastigheid, wysheid, en geestelike krag.
Mag dit nooit weer gebeur nie!
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