On Tuesday, 3 March 2026, President Cyril Ramaphosa unveiled two towering 10-metre statues honoring former ANC leaders Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela in KwaZulu-Natal.
Tambo’s statue has been installed along Durban’s beachfront, while Mandela’s statue now graces the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
The R22 million project has sparked criticism from some political parties, who argue that the funds could have been better allocated to address pressing service delivery issues and support struggling communities.
However, eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba defended the initiative, calling the statues a strategic investment in tourism and job creation.
“We’ve built a fully-fledged tourism unit with a budget, so the money to build more tourism offerings will come from the tourism budget. Anyone who thinks the funds could have been used elsewhere is forgetting that at the centre of everything is to build the economy, create jobs, and tourism is going to be a major driver in that process,” Xaba said.
He emphasised that the statue project has not undermined municipal service delivery, citing ongoing infrastructure work.
“The streetlights are on, traffic robots are operational, potholes are being repaired, and water leaks addressed. Currently, we are investing R1.2 billion to replace a pipeline from Reservoir Hills to Chatsworth, Shallcross, Umlazi, Folweni, and surrounding areas. This pipeline supplies water to 1.2 million people and will be completed by the end of December,” Xaba added.
The unveiling highlights the tension between cultural and historical commemoration and immediate community service priorities, as municipal authorities balance tourism promotion with ongoing infrastructure needs.
