J. C. Smuts Statue

Lloyd De Jongh

This statue has been newly renovated as of 06 Dec 2017, having just received a new coat of paint. The first Jan Smuts statue is in front of the National Gallery in the Company's Garden. This statue, in front of the Slave Lodge in Adderley Street, was unveiled on the 26th January, 1974. Field-Marshal Jan Christiaan Smuts was born near Riebeeck West in 1870. A Barrister by profession, he played an active part in the Boer War. He distinguished himself as a Guerrilla leader and took a leading part in the peace negotiations. He became a Cabinet Minister in the Union Government and resumed his role as a soldier in the First World War. After a distinguished career, including becoming a member of the BritishWar Cabinet, he returned to South Africa and, on the death of General Botha, became Prime Minister. A varied political career followed until the Second World War, when he became Prime Minister once again and, was a close collaborator of Winston Churchill. He once again played an important role in the war. One of his major achievements was his contribution to the drafting of the Covenant of the United Nations. He was defeated in the General Elections of 1948 and died in 1950.

like

Report