By Celani Sikhakhane
- The statues, shipped from China at a cost of R20-million, are now standing at South Beach and Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
- Opposition parties once slammed the project, saying local artists were sidelined and costs were inflated.
The City of eThekwini has finally erected the long-delayed statues of Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo – at a cost of R20-million to taxpayers.
The two statues remain wrapped in black plastic. One stands at South Beach, the other near Moses Mabhida Stadium.
The project has been under fire since 2018, when opposition parties questioned why the work was given to a Chinese company instead of local artists.
Durban artist Lungile Gumede was first paid R5-million to produce the statues, but his work was deemed unsuitable for climate conditions. The city then turned to a Chinese firm, which demanded R20-million.
When the council fought over the payment, the Chinese company reportedly threatened to destroy the statues unless they were paid. The city then settled the bill, and the statues were shipped to South Africa in secret.
The Tambo statue was originally planned for Mgababa, south of Durban, where Tambo once visited after returning from exile. The Mandela statue was meant for City Hall to attract tourists. Both ended up in different spots.
For now, the statues remain covered, leaving curious onlookers wondering what they will look like when finally unveiled.
Pictured above: One of the statues in a warehouse back in 2023.
Image source: File
