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Pretoria - The ANC once again has the statue of Paul Kruger on Church Square in Pretoria in its sights, with a suggestion that it be replaced by a statue of murdered SACP leader Chris Hani.

The ANC Youth League in Tshwane on Tuesday said "Oom Paul Kruger and his generals" should be removed "because they represent the heritage of apartheid and pose a threat to our community and our future".

Masket Mtshweni, chairperson of the youth league in Tshwane, said the cost of such a decision is beside the point.

'Celebrate' Hani

"The cost cannot be compared to the human rights offences experienced by our people during the apartheid era."

According to Mtshweni, they have launched a programme aimed at convincing "the leadership" to make the noble decision.

He feels it would be suitable "to celebrate" Hani and other heroes of the freedom struggle on Church Square.

This is not the first time that the former president's place in the Pretoria CBD has come under threat.

Over the past few years, the ANC has regularly suggested that a statue of former president Nelson Mandela be erected on Church Square.

Gabriel Twala, an outspoken ANC council member in Tshwane and a former mayoral committee member, said last year at a council meeting that Kruger's statue "will have to go at some stage".

Kruger 'fought for freedom'

It seems there are differences within the ANC regarding Kruger's historical value.

A Tshwane technical committee last year submitted a preliminary report to the mayoral committee after it investigated the matter of a suitable location for a statue of Mandela.

The report contains a suggestion that this statue be erected in front of the Old Synagogue, "because that's where the Rivonia treason trial took place between 1958 and 1963".

In the report, Kruger is labelled as "a man who fought for freedom himself".

- Beeld & News24