The Federation for Afrikaans Culture Organisations (FAK) is still hoping to find the bronze bust of Boer General Koos de la Rey.
The bust was stolen from his grave in the Lichtenburg cemetery, in the North West, at the weekend.
The bronze bust of the iconic South African Boer War leader was made in 1917. The grave was also vandalised.
A case of theft and vandalism has been opened by the FAK.
Project manager at the FAK, Johan Janse van Vuuren, says the loss of the bronze bust is a tragedy. He says they are visiting all scrap metal businesses in the area in an attempt to locate the stolen artefact.
Van Vuuren says even if they find the original bust, they have already commissioned an artist to make a replica from less valuable material to restore the grave. He says heritage sites are becoming targets for vandals.
“Afrikaners are quite angry at this stage. We are at a place where it’s a bad situation for us but we aren’t giving up. We are going forward and if our heritage sites gets vandalised we will make a plan to restore it.”
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the bust are requested to contact the police.
