Infamous R20m ANC stalwart statues may call Durban City Hall home

The eThekwini municipality will soon make a formal announcement regarding the two statues of ANC stalwarts Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela.

City mayor Zandile Gumede, speaking at an executive committee meeting held last week, confirmed a city council resolution was taken in 2017 to erect giant statues of OR Tambo and Nelson Mandela in front of the Durban City Hall, reports Northglen News.

She said there were currently a number of colonial statues situated outside City Hall, adding that the process of erecting these two statues would change the face of the city.

ALSO READ: Mpumalanga ANCYL threatens to demolish ‘bogus’ Madiba statue

“We will soon be making a formal and public announcement once we have concluded our internal processes. We will engage with the office of the premier, national government, and involved families before providing detailed feedback. It is important that protocol be observed and followed when it comes to certain political decisions. We are accountable to the public as public representatives and also to our caucuses as politically deployed cadres,” she said.

uMhlanga ward councillor Heinz de Boer said his party, as well as other opposition parties, opposed the funds spent on the statues.

“I feel the money [should] be spent on service delivery in the province. The funds for both these statues was approved in 2017. Initially, we were told there would be a Nelson Mandela statue placed at the entrance to the Durban harbour, it then emerged there would be two statues. I can confirm the city [has] appointed an artist to do the work,” he said.

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.