A PROJECT to erect two historical statues, that of former President Nelson Mandela and ANC stalwart, OR Tambo in the city came before a meeting of the Executive Committee this week.
The report before councillors said the project aims to honour and pay tribute, as the City, to the fallen heroes and sons of the soil for the role they played in fighting apartheid.
It is also believed that projects such as this play a significant role in transforming the heritage landscape of the City and will boost the local economy.
It further stated that Durban, as one of the largest cities in South Africa, did not have any memorial of significant stature honouring the contribution made both by OR Tambo and Nelson Mandela aside from the Nelson Mandela School of Medicine and the Nelson Mandela statue at Ohlange in Durban.
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There are no financial implications at the moment as the tabled report sought only project authority.
Upon receipt of project authority another report will be submitted to Council detailing the financial implications.
In response, eThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede said this year had been declared as the year of Nelson Mandela as the country celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of one of the greatest leaders of this country and the world.
“We will pay tribute to the contribution that he made over the course of his 95 years – to the struggle for freedom and the cause of building humane social relations across the globe. We will have programmes and events to celebrate President Mandela as a nation,” she said.
The report, which was welcomed by the Executive Committee, gives authority to the Parks, Recreation and Culture Unit to erect the statues and to raise the funds internally and externally to finance the project.
Deputy Mayor Fawzia Peer said they were all in agreement to have the statues of these heroes. She said the cost implications and where the statues will be erected will be decided at a later stage. “We are dealing with icons and at the moment it is an agreement in principle for the statues to be erected. Further discussions will take place with regard to the location,” she said.
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