The Power of History

South Africa’s monuments tied to colonialism and apartheid are enduring symbols of dissonant heritage. This chapter analyses iconic cases such as the Rhodes statue at the University of Cape Town and the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria. It examines public debates over whether to remove, reinterpret, or preserve them. Tourism emerges as a possible medium for transforming these controversial sites into opportunities for reflection and education. By considering the role of tourism in memory politics, the chapter asks whether remembrance can foster healing in a fractured society.