MEC Manana condemns the violation of Simelane statue
BETHAL – MEC for Culture, Sport and Recreation, Ms
Sibongile Manana condemns the barbaric action of a few criminal
elements who allegedly damaged the Nokuthula Simelane statue and
attempted to steal it last night (Monday, 24 January 2011) in the
Bethal Cultural Precinct.
MEC Manana says such hooliganism has no space in a free and
democratic South Africa and urges all people to refrain from
attacking and violating monuments built in honour of heroes and
heroines in the country. She said hooliganism will never be
tolerated and perpetrators of such deeds will face the full wrath of
the law.
MEC Manana visited the Bethal Cultural Precinct and the Simelane
family earlier today (Tuesday, 25 January) after this criminal act
was committed. It’s alleged that the criminals forcefully removed
the statue from the precinct and loaded it to their car before
fleeing the scene. However, police reacted swiftly and managed to
arrest two suspects.
MEC Manana said even though the alleged actions of the arrested
criminals were without doubt a clear provocation and unwarranted
insult to the people of Bethal and Mpumalanga,
all citizens in the area needed to be calm and allow police to
investigate the matter further so that all people who were behind
this deed were brought before justice.
She said the department views the attempted stealing of Simelane’s
statue in a serious light and will work together with the people to
ensure that those who committed the crime are punished accordingly.
For more information, contact Sibongile Nkosi on 082 492 4886