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GEORGE NEWS AND VIDEO - The statue of Leentjie that was toppled from her pedestal by a freak wave on Saturday 16 September, was reinstated on her spot at Leentjiesklip where she was officially unveiled today, Wednesday 1 November, in a special ceremony.
She is standing on the edge of the parking area where the beach begins, facing the parking lot. The statue would have been unveiled on 19 September and was erected on 16 September, the day when the freak wave also took the life of the 93-year-old Jo Hartman from Bloemfontein.
Hartman was there together with her daughter to view an unusually violent ocean that resulted from turbulent weather conditions on the day.
Hoekwil artist Ian Visser, the creator of the statue, said it was ironic that he was a pupil at Sentraal Hoërskool while Hartman, a retired math teacher, was teaching at the same school.
The statue probably survived the violence of the wave because he had made her from a steel frame and semcrete, a very durable material that can withstand severe coastal weather conditions.
However, she did need some repairs.
VIDEO - Jeff Ayliffe speaks to Ian Hall about the statue:
Artist Ian Visser unveils the statue.
On the plaque at the foot of the statue, the story behind Leentjiesklip is written. It is an extract from the book Wilderness - Gateway to the Garden Route by well-known Wilderness historian Hugo Leggatt and tells how Leentjie, a young woman from the 19th century, worked as an oyster gatherer on the rocks at the end of the beach.
The man she fell in love with left her for another woman and a heartbroken Leentjie drowned herself from the rocks. Ever since then, the rocks have borne her name. "The aim of the statue is to keep this history alive in people's hearts. The unveiling today is approximately 100 years after Leentjie's tragic death," said Visser.
Representatives from the George Municipality with saxophone player Audrey Kritzinger.
On the plaque he also added an invitation to visitors to place a shell on the ground near the statue and make a wish. Visser says he hopes that the shells that collect over time, together with Leentjie's tragic love story, would inspire people to always be kind to others.
The project was made possible with the cooperation of the Wilderness Ratepayers and Residents Association (WRRA) that adopted the spot where the statue is standing. George Municipality approved their application through the Adopt-A-Spot programme, that allows members of the public to adopt an open piece of municipal property to maintain and improve it.
Various representatives from the municipality were among the crowd that attended the unveiling, including George Mayor Leon van Wyk and Lauren Waring, head of the planning department.
Eisteddfod dancers gave expression to the song Leentjie composed by well-known local musician Koos van der Merwe. The song was rendered by Audrey Kritzinger on saxophone.
Onlookers share in the moment of unveiling Leentjie's statue.
Dancers expressed Koos van der Merwe's song Leentjie, played by Audrey Kritzinger.
Dancers expressed Koos van der Merwe's song Leentjie, played by Audrey Kritzinger. Photos: Jeff Ayliffe
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