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Date: 1898 Type: Monument Status: Extant Street: Kgosi Mampuru St   Click to view large map Coordinates:

On February 4, 1897, a committee met to discuss the establishment of a monument for Lieutenant-Colonel Henning Petrus Nicolaas Pretorius aka "Skote Petoors" (1844-1897). Pretorius was known for his military achievements, particularly during the First Boer War, his leadership in modernizing the ZAR’s artillery, and his connection to the storied Retief and Pretorius families, which played critical roles in the Boer and Voortrekker movements. It was decided that the forecourt in front of the main entrance of the then-under-construction State Artillery Barracks (the oldest part of the current Defense Headquarters) was the designated site for such a monument. On September 30, 1897, the committee entered into an agreement with the firm JN Hekhuizen, whereby the latter undertook to manufacture a monument of Belgian granite in Europe and erect it at the designated site, with "...in the pedestal to be provided the likeness of the late Commandant HPN Pretorius, in bronze (red copper), and on both side panels, the necessary letters to be carved and gilded." Hekhuizen imported the monument as agreed but could not fully meet his obligations, and on July 28, 1898, he requested the building contractors Daanen and Dorlas to complete the work. The relief bust was crafted by J Fallochini. The monument was moved to its current location in c. 1924-1927. (Summary by Paul v d Merwe from: afrikanergeskiedenis.co.za)