Zuma unveils Madiba statue
by Natasha Marrian
2013-12-16 15:02:26.0
A STATUE of former president Nelson Mandela was unveiled at the Union Buildings some 24 hours after South Africa's first democratically elected president was laid to rest in his hometown, Qunu, in the Eastern Cape.
"We laid Tata to rest in Qunu only yesterday. Today, he rises majestically at the seat of government, as a symbol of peace, reconciliation, unity and progress," said President Jacob Zuma at the unveiling ceremony.
"There should now be no more tears. We must celebrate Madiba and take forward his legacy. He should live in our hearts and inspire us to do something good every single day, to honour his memory."
Mr Zuma unveiled the 9m structure, the largest of Mandela worldwide, on a site where the statue of former prime minister Barry Hertzog, who led the previous government from 1924 to 1939, had stood.
He was accompanied by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, former president Thabo Mbeki and Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile.
"Following an exhaustive consultation process, and in the spirit of reconciliation that our country has become renowned for, the representatives of former prime minister Hertzog agreed that his statue be relocated to another spot in the Union Buildings in order to make way for Madiba's statue," Mr Zuma said.
The statue depicts a smiling Mandela with his arms outstretched, peering out over the gardens of the Union Buildings and out into the capital city.
The bronze statue looked on as hundreds of South Africans came to celebrate the unveiling, along with their children and the elderly, most carrying the national flag — which was flown at full mast on Monday after the conclusion of the ten days of mourning for the former president at midnight yesterday.
Mr Zuma pointed out that all existing statues of Mandela depict him with his fist raised or outstretched — derived from the slogan of the ANC. But the statue unveiled on Monday depicts Mandela with his arms outstretched, in order to embrace the nation.
The unveiling was accompanied by a 21 gun salute and a fly past by the air force.
A bronze statue of former president Nelson Mandela at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. File picture: REUTERS
A STATUE of former president Nelson Mandela was unveiled at the Union Buildings some 24 hours after South Africa's first democratically elected president was laid to rest in his hometown, Qunu, in the Eastern Cape.
"We laid Tata to rest in Qunu only yesterday. Today, he rises majestically at the seat of government, as a symbol of peace, reconciliation, unity and progress," said President Jacob Zuma at the unveiling ceremony.
"There should now be no more tears. We must celebrate Madiba and take forward his legacy. He should live in our hearts and inspire us to do something good every single day, to honour his memory."
Mr Zuma unveiled the 9m structure, the largest of Mandela worldwide, on a site where the statue of former prime minister Barry Hertzog, who led the previous government from 1924 to 1939, had stood.
He was accompanied by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, former president Thabo Mbeki and Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile.
"Following an exhaustive consultation process, and in the spirit of reconciliation that our country has become renowned for, the representatives of former prime minister Hertzog agreed that his statue be relocated to another spot in the Union Buildings in order to make way for Madiba's statue," Mr Zuma said.
The statue depicts a smiling Mandela with his arms outstretched, peering out over the gardens of the Union Buildings and out into the capital city.
The bronze statue looked on as hundreds of South Africans came to celebrate the unveiling, along with their children and the elderly, most carrying the national flag — which was flown at full mast on Monday after the conclusion of the ten days of mourning for the former president at midnight yesterday.
Mr Zuma pointed out that all existing statues of Mandela depict him with his fist raised or outstretched — derived from the slogan of the ANC. But the statue unveiled on Monday depicts Mandela with his arms outstretched, in order to embrace the nation.
The unveiling was accompanied by a 21 gun salute and a fly past by the air force.
