EWN Mar 04
Ramaphosa on Mandela, Tambo statues: 'Their struggle contribution is incalculable'
ewn.co.za/2026/03/04/ramaphosa-on-mandela-tambo-statues-their-struggle-contribution-is-incalculable
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Controversy Over Mandela and Tambo Statues in DurbanR22 million was spent on monuments unveiled in 2026, while critics highlight the city’s ongoing water crisis and infrastructure issues.
- President Ramaphosa stressed the immeasurable value of Mandela and Tambo’s contributions to the liberation struggle.
- The statues at Moses Mabhida Stadium and Durban north beachfront commemorate the nation’s resistance history.
- The Democratic Alliance criticized the R22 million expenditure, urging funds be redirected to pressing service delivery challenges.
- City officials reported that 60% of water is lost due to neglected, outdated pipelines.
The cost of what they contributed to our struggle is incalculable. We cannot even begin to count what it cost for us to be where we are. In stone and bronze, we continue to write our history. Not the history of those who held power unjustly but the history of those who refused to let injustice have the final word.— Cyril Ramaphosa on the Mandela and Tambo statues, Durban, March 4, 2026.
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First President of South Africa and anti-apartheid activist (1918–2013)
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EWN Mar 04
Ramaphosa on Mandela, Tambo statues: 'Their struggle contribution is incalculable'
ewn.co.za/2026/03/04/ramaphosa-on-mandela-tambo-statues-their-struggle-contribution-is-incalculable
EWN Mar 03
Government unveils R22m Mandela and Tambo statues in Durban: One statue has been installed along the Durban North beachfront, while the other stands at the Moses ...
ewn.co.za/2026/03/03/government-unveils-r22m-mandela-and-tambo-statues-in-durban
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Key FactsControversy Over Mandela and Tambo Statues in eThekwini
Mar 3, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: citizen.co.za
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: citizen.co.za
- Two 10-meter bronze statues of Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo were unveiled in eThekwini, costing R22 million.
- The uMkhonto weSizwe party condemns the unveiling, citing severe local infrastructure and service delivery problems.
- President Ramaphosa highlighted that the statues symbolize the struggle for freedom and uphold Mandela and Tambo’s legacy.
- The ANC has lost significant ground in KwaZulu-Natal, facing challenges to rebuild after electoral defeats.
In stone and bronze, we continue to write our history, not the history of those who held power unjustly, but the history of those who refused to let injustice have the final word. We are writing the history of how our people struggled to be free.— Ramaphosa's remarks at the unveiling ceremony for Mandela and Tambo statues in eThekwini
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