Jan Chistiiaan Smits was mighty busy during his time in the public eye. He was the Prime Minster of South Africa twice - with the terms 15 years apart. He also was a military leader in the Second Boer War and World War II.
Here's a really tough piece of historical trivia. Who was the only person to sign both of the treaties ending World War I and World War II? Smith is the answer. He also helped create the League of Nations, and wrote the preamble to the Charter of the United Nations.
On the other hand, he played a large role in the segregationist policies that became apartheid in 1948. Blacks were denied their voting rights during his second period as Prime Minister.
The statue is outside of the Iziko State Lodge in Cape Town. (That building was opened in 1679, and now hosts a social history museum.) I guess it is a little surprising that the statue hasn't been moved to a museum. But it's not my city, or country.
The discussion continues:
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