Former Durban Botanic Gardens guide disappointed by removal of flag sculpture

THE removal of artwork depicting the old and new South African flags at the Durban Botranic Gardens after complaints were received by the ANC Youth League has been described as a disappointment for Durban residents and former guide at the Gardens, Di Higgingson Keath.

Durban’s Botanical Gardens management was forced to remove the installation meant to depict South Africa’s political transition of power after the municipality received complaints that it was offensive and provocative.

Although the work has been on the premises for more than 20 years, it recently gained notoriety after a visitor to the gardens took a video of the installation to express their initial shock at seeing the old flag before realising that it transitioned into the current South African flag.

A number of people immediately expressed their disgust and dismay online and posted suggestions that it should be vandalised, while others admitted to understanding the statement the art was making and had no issue with it.

On Monday, 1 October, the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) issued a statement calling for it to be removed within 48 hours and threatened to “mobilise young people to take it down” if the public park did not agree.

eThekwini Municipal Parks, Recreation and Culture head Thembinkosi Ngcobo had it taken down, claiming that municipal protocol was not followed when the work was initially put up. He said the artwork was an initiative by the Durban Botanic Gardens management, not Parks.

READ RELATED: Durban Botanical Gardens removes apartheid flag amid complaints

Last week, Di Higginson Keath spoke to Berea Mail, expressing her disappointment that the artwork, which she said was such an important expression of transformation, had been taken down.

“The artwork, created by Camille Cronje-Honiball, was part of a national competition in collaboration with the Durban Art Gallery in 1998, which was open to all artists. The creations were displayed around the gardens for the public to view,” she said, adding the artwork had remained on a wall in the Gardens, along with its interpretation, however this had since fallen down and not been replaced.

“I ran guiding at the Gardens and used to use the flag for education purposes. We would ask the children if they wanted to take a walk to freedom. They started on the side where they could see the old South African flag, and as they moved forward, it would transition into the new flag. I feel so sorry for the artist as it took her six months to create the artwork and it is now gone,” she said.

Di said she felt the flag should be re-erected along with its interpretation.

“It is so important that it goes back but with a good interpretation. Here we were a garden of education and they tore this piece down, leaving a blank wall to look at to say ‘what have I learnt?’

The artist is yet to decide what will happen to the sculpture, which she said was a positive commentary on South African society.

Martin Clement from Durban Botanic Gardens declined to comment, saying the Parks Department had already commented on the issue.

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