Malema statue to watch over city
A BRONZE statue measuring 9m high of EFF commander-in-chief, Julius Malema, will be erected at the entrance of the Polokwane Municipality.
POLOKWANE – A BRONZE statue measuring 9m high of EFF commander-in-chief, Julius Malema, will be erected at the entrance of the Polokwane Municipality.
Polokwane sculptor, Lerole Dikgale, will be responsible for creating this statue.
The project received final approval in August 2014, giving the artist just six months in which to complete it, which he agreed to. The statue portrays Malema singing with his fist up to show he is a revolutionist.
The idea of erecting the statue has received the thumbs up from the youth in the province.
In light of the debacle surrounding the statue of Cecil John Rhodes at UCT in recent weeks, Malema recently said all Apartheid statues should be targeted. He regarded the proposed statue as an honour.
EFF Limpopo convener, Mike Mathebe, said Malema was excited to be honoured during his lifetime.
Malema said it was important for people who fought for the liberation of this country to be counted among the heroes of the country.
“When I heard the news, I was humbled. This shows that we are raising future leaders who are brave enough to voice their ideas without intimidation. Statues of apartheid figures should fall and give a chance to people who fought for the liberation of this country. My next goals are the nationalisation of mines and taking back farms without compensation,” Malema said.
A municipal spokesperson con-firmed that the statue would indeed be erected in honour of Malema.
“We hope it will also attract tourists as Malema is one of the lions of the north.”
Speaking on behalf of the ANC, Phuti Lekganyane said there were veterans of the struggle who were more deserving of having a statue erected in their honour.
“If a statue of Malema is erected in Polokwane, the ANC will tear it down,” he said.
DA Limpopo leader, Jacques Smalle, said the party too would opposed the idea of a statue in Malema’s honour. He said it would be better for the people of Limpopo to have a referendum over the issue.
• Look at the date – the joke is on you, dear reader.
