By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa unveiled the R22m bronze statues of former African National Congress (ANC) stalwarts Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo in Durban on Tuesday.
The date for the unveiling was moved forward to allow the president to attend the funeral of US civil rights luminary Jesse Jackson, who died last week aged 84.
Tambo’s statue stands on Durban’s popular beachfront, while the figure of Mandela is positioned outside the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
The city mayor Cyril Xaba defended the investment that it is in line with the aim of strengthening tourism in the province.
“Tourism is going to be a major driver in the economic recovery of our city,” Xaba said.
He added that the city was addressing infrastructure challenges, highlighting an ongoing R1.2 billion pipeline replacement project aimed at supplying water to more than 1.2 million residents.
But political parties have criticised the project, calling it poor financial management.
ActionSA’s KZN chairperson, Zwakele Mncwango, says that while they respect the late anti-apartheid activists, service delivery should be prioritised.
“We are currently sitting in a city where the sewer infrastructure is not well-maintained. We have an issue of water crisis in our city. We’ve got an issue with potholes.
eThekwini Democratic Alliance (DA) mayoral candidate Haniff Hoosen voiced his party’s displeasure, claiming the substantial outlay could have improved the living conditions of residents who continue to endure the harsh realities of informal settlements.
“There are people who have been living in these informal settlements for over 30 years. Where are the promises of houses for all that were so boldly proclaimed when the ANC came into power?” Hoosen asked.
Mandela and Tambo were the primary architects of South Africa’s liberation.
Ramaphosa paid tribute to both leaders, saying their history is intertwined with that of South Africa and its people.
“It honours not only these two leaders but also the millions of South Africans who struggled and sacrificed for freedom,” Ramaphosa said.
“It emphasises that remembering their sacrifices is essential to building a better future. By honouring the past and those who suffered, the nation commits to continuing their legacy and working toward the South Africa they dreamed of for future generations.”
Ramaphosa also met with the presidential working group after the unveiling the statues to get an update on investment and developments in the city.
As lifelong comrades and law partners, they led the ANC against the apartheid regime Tambo mobilising international pressure from exile and Mandela becoming a global icon of resistance during his 27-year imprisonment. Together, their leadership transitioned the nation to a multi-racial democracy in 1994.