Durban, March 4, 2026 – President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to unveil two towering bronze statues honoring Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo in Durban’s iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium precinct this Friday. The R22 million project, funded by the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government, stands as a bold tribute to South Africa’s liberation heroes amid ongoing calls for national unity.
Crafted by renowned sculptor Norman Catherine, the 8-meter Mandela statue depicts the Nobel laureate in his signature stride, fist raised in defiance, while the adjacent Tambo figure captures the ANC stalwart’s resolute gaze, symbolizing enduring partnership. “These monuments immortalize the unyielding spirit that freed our nation,” Ramaphosa said in a statement. “In turbulent times, they remind us: unity triumphs over division.”
The unveiling coincides with heightened political tensions ahead of local elections, drawing praise from ANC veterans but criticism from opposition parties like the DA, who question the expenditure amid eThekwini Municipality’s R6 billion debt crisis. “Priceless heritage or misplaced priorities?” tweeted DA KZN leader Dean Macpherson.
Local leaders hail the event as a tourism booster for Durban, Africa’s fastest-growing port city. “This will draw global pilgrims, echoing Mandela’s legacy of reconciliation,” said KZN Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube.
As crowds gather, the ceremony promises cultural performances, freedom songs, and a keynote invoking biblical wisdom: “Let us build on the foundation of giants, as Proverbs 22:28 urges—remove not the ancient landmark.” For many, it’s a clarion call to reclaim South Africa’s moral compass.
Stay tuned for live updates from aagvgu.co.za.