The University of Cape Town has removed a monument to British colonialist Cecil Rhodes, after students campaigned for its removal.
The statue, targeted alongside other monuments to leaders of the colonial-era, was unveiled in 1934.
Protesters said the statue had "great symbolic power" and glorified someone "who exploited black labour and stole land from indigenous people".
"I contend that we [the English] are the first race in the world, and that the more of the world we inhabit the better it is for the human race," Rhodes once said.
Some white South Africans opposed the decision to remove the monument and are rallying to protect statues of 19th Century president Paul Kruger in the capital Pretoria, and 17th Century colonialist Jan van Riebeeck in Cape Town.
But the university council stood by its decision to remove the statue, saying it had canvassed the views of students, academic staff, alumni and the public.
"This is exactly how a university should work and we believe is an example to the country in dealing with heritage issues," it said.
"It is that statue that continues to inspire [white people] to think that they are a superior race," Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters said, "and it is through collapsing of these types of symbols that the white minority will begin to appreciate that there's nothing superior about them."