In "De Bode" on July 1, 1914, he wrote an open letter to the Minister of Home Affairs, stating “I have the honor to inform you that steps are now being taken to implement the second part of the original plan, namely the erection of a monument in honor of Piet Retief, Gerrit Maritz, Piet Uys, and other Voortrekkers.” Although the government did not provide immediate financial support, the public did raise money specifically to build a statue of Retief.