Statues spark furore in South Africa

by NJABULO BUTHELEZI
DURBAN, (CAJ News)– As millions of South Africans grapple with economic hardship, housing and sanitation backlogs, high unemployment and rising crime amid strained law enforcement capacity, the unveiling of two statues of liberation icons — at a combined cost of R22 million (US$1.33 million) — has sparked widespread furore.

President Cyril Ramaphosa unveiled statues of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first democratically elected president, and Oliver Tambo, the late former leader of the African National Congress (ANC), at a ceremony attended by family members in eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).

With numerous landmarks already named in honour of the two leaders, critics argue the funds could have been directed toward addressing pressing socio-economic and service delivery challenges facing local communities.

The two nine-metre (29.5-foot) bronze statues have been erected at the Durban beachfront promenade and at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

The Democratic Alliance (DA), the ANC’s largest partner in the Government of National Unity formed in 2024, is among the most vocal critics of the project. The issue has further deepened tensions between the two major political parties.

Several provincial DA leaders led protests during Tuesday’s unveiling.

Haniff Hoosen, the party’s mayoral candidate ahead of this year’s municipal elections, said the event contradicted Ramaphosa’s February pledge to hold municipalities accountable for failing to provide water.

“Two weeks later, he is here in Durban to unveil a statue of shame. R22 million has been spent on statues in a city where people do not have water,” Hoosen told the media during the demonstration.

While eThekwini remains one of South Africa’s premier tourism destinations, the DA warns the municipality is on the brink of collapse, with service delivery at an all-time low.

The party cited reports of sewage flowing into rivers and the ocean, deteriorating sanitation infrastructure, electricity grid constraints, unreliable water supply and rising crime.

Artist Themba Sigidi also questioned the expenditure.

“There are already many Nelson Mandela statues in South Africa,” he said.

“The government should create jobs, build infrastructure, improve roads, and ensure water and electricity supply as a way of honouring Mandela, rather than spending millions on statues.”

Another resident, Nkosinathi Gamede, called for the statues to be relocated to the Eastern Cape, where both Mandela (1918–2013) and Tambo (1917–1993) were born.

At the unveiling, Ramaphosa defended the project, saying the monuments honour the leaders’ contributions to freedom, social justice and empowerment.

“Monuments of this nature are important for preserving our history and heritage. They anchor the collective memory of a nation,” he said.

– CAJ News