A Fading Tribute: Calls to Restore Desmond Tutu’s Wooden Arch in Company’s Garden

A Fading Tribute: Calls to Restore Desmond Tutu’s Wooden Arch in Company’s Garden

In the shadow of Parliament and St. George’s Cathedral, a monument to one of South Africa’s moral giants is quietly fraying at the edges. “The Arch for Arch,” the distinctive woven wooden structure honoring Archbishop Desmond Tutu, has become a symbol of a different kind: the struggle to maintain the physical symbols of our democracy.

For months, passersby have noticed the decay. Brass plaques bearing the Bill of Rights have gone missing, presumably pried away by vandals. The wooden structure itself, a testament to collaborative design, has shown signs of wear. For those who knew the man it represents, the neglect is particularly painful.

A Personal Plea from a Colleague

Among the concerned voices is Pam Saxby, a resident whose connection to the Arch runs deeper than most. She worked alongside Tutu when he was the Bishop of Johannesburg and during the fraught national peace process. For her, the monument’s state is a personal affront.

“It’s very sad to see something like this happening to a monument to the man,” Saxby lamented. She recalls complaining about similar damage years ago, which was fixed, only for the vandalism to recur. “I kept walking past, thinking one day something’s going to be done about this and it just wasn’t.”

Her persistence has helped spark action. The City’s Community, Arts and Culture Development Department is now formally stepping in to accept ownership of the monument, a crucial first step towards allocating public funds for its long-term care.

More Than Just Wood and Brass

Unveiled in 2017, the “Arch for Arch” is rich with symbolism. Commissioned by Design Indaba and designed by Norwegian firm Snøhetta with Johannesburg’s Local Studio, it was sponsored by financial services group Liberty.

The 14 arching strands of wood represent the 14 lines of the Constitution’s preamble, each bearing a quote from that foundational text. The intertwined structure, forming a protective dome, symbolizes the founding principles that hold the nation together. It was a fitting tribute to Tutu, a man who was instrumental in the dawn of that very democracy.

A Collaborative Path to Restoration

When asked about maintenance responsibility, Liberty and Design Indaba issued a joint statement acknowledging the complaint. They confirmed they would assess the damage and intend to restore the monument to its former glory.

This collaborative response, involving the original creators, the corporate sponsor, and now the City, offers a beacon of hope. It suggests that the legacy of the Arch like the legacy of the Archbishop himself requires a collective effort to uphold.

The restoration of the “Arch for Arch” is more than a repair job. It is a necessary act of remembrance, ensuring that the values Tutu championed remain visibly anchored in the heart of the city he loved.

{Source: IOL}

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