Zulu memorial at Isandlwana battlefield damaged by thieves
Picking on monuments signals a new phase in the ‘war’ being waged by those who steal metal to be sold for scrap.
The trashing of the Zulu monument to the brave warriors at Isandlawana has been blamed on scrap metal scavengers.
Tour guide, Pat Rundgren, said ’the sleeping pillows (iziQiki) have all been ripped off their bases and half of the necklace is gone. Motive? Probably scrap metal value. But it has no value. It’s only cast iron.’
The monument was unveiled in 1999 after being commissioned by the KwaZulu Monuments Council to commemorate the Zulu army involved in the battle, unveiled on its 120th anniversary.
The “isiqu” or necklace of valour was used in the design: deserving Zulu warriors were permitted to wear such a necklace, which they made themselves.
The Dundee area has been hard hit by copper and cable thieves in recent months with pipes ripped off businesses and homes, air conditioning units removed from walls and electrical cables and boxes broken open in a bid to access copper.
Thousands of people including the new Zulu monarch gathered at Isandlwana in January to mark the 145th anniversary of the battle.
Tour guides said the vandals must have struck after that – possibly gaining access to the site at night.
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