The Paul Kruger statue on Church Square in Pretoria has been seriously damaged in an attack over the weekend, sparking condemnation from civil rights organisation AfriForum. A gun barrel and a boot were broken off two of the Boer warrior figures flanking the statue of the former Transvaal president, while the surrounding security fence was also damaged.

The vandalism comes a week after the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) used a parliamentary debate to demand the removal of Afrikaner monuments, citing the Kruger statue directly. The party also moved in the Mpumalanga legislature to rename the Kruger National Park.

EFF spokesperson Sinawo Thambo reacted on social media to news of the attack, describing it as “great news.”

AfriForum has urged the Tshwane Metro to restore the damaged sculptures and bolster protection around the site. The organisation says the incident highlights what it views as an escalating campaign against Afrikaner heritage.

“It is no coincidence that this attack comes in the week after the EFF called for the destruction of this specific monument and others associated with the white minority,” said Ernst van Zyl, AfriForum’s head of intercultural relations. He added that the group would continue to defend existing symbols and erect new ones, insisting: “As Afrikaners we embrace our culture of being builders, not breakers.”