President Cyril Ramaphosa unveiled towering bronze statues of liberation struggle icons Nelson Mandela and Oliver Reginald Tambo at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban this morning, marking a symbolic tribute to two of the country’s most revered freedom fighters.

The ceremony was attended by senior ANC figures, including former ministers Jeff Radebe and Mac Maharaj, alongside eThekwini metro’s political and administrative leadership, reports The Witness.

The 9m-long statues, each costing R11m, have been erected to honour Mandela and Tambo’s lifelong struggle against apartheid and their role in steering South Africa from racial oppression to constitutional democracy.

Both leaders spent decades mobilising resistance, enduring exile, imprisonment and political persecution in pursuit of a free and equal society.

Beyond their symbolic weight, the statues are also central to the city’s economic ambitions.

The eThekwini metro has positioned the installations as anchor attractions in a broader tourism expansion drive aimed at strengthening heritage tourism and encouraging visitors to extend their stay in the coastal city.

Municipal leaders argue that investing in landmark cultural infrastructure will translate into tangible economic returns.

eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba recently revealed that Durban drew more than 1.2 million visitors during the latest festive season, injecting close to R9b into the region’s gross domestic product.

The city believes that expanding its portfolio of attractions, including high-profile heritage monuments, will further increase foot traffic and stimulate local spending in hospitality, retail and transport sectors.

DA pickets

Meanwhile, a group of people clad in DA colours chanted not far from the unveiling site, carrying placards reading ‘Services, not statues’.

Watch the unveiling here:

Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel.

Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.