President Cyril Ramaphosa will visit eThekwini tomorrow to unveil landmark statues honouring former president Nelson Mandela and Oliver Reginald Tambo, and to convene the Presidential eThekwini Working Group (PeWG) later in the day.

The two 10m statues have been installed in North Beach and the Moses Mabhida Stadium precinct, and were initially due for unveiling on Friday, reports Berea Mail.

The statues celebrate the historic contribution made by both leaders to the country’s liberation and democracy and are directed at enhancing the city’s cultural and heritage tourism offering.

“The unveiling forms part of the municipality’s commitment to promote Durban as a heritage tourism destination,” said eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba.

The move has seen a backlash from ratepayers and residents, citing skewed priorities in the midst of ailing infrastructure and a lack of service delivery.

Following the unveiling ceremony, Ramaphosa will convene a meeting of the PeWG at the Durban International Convention Centre.

The PeWG, established in April 2024, is a collaborative initiative between The Presidency, the eThekwini municipality and the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry to address service delivery challenges, improve infrastructure, stabilise governance, and enhance economic growth in the municipality. The meeting will bring together key stakeholders, including business and organised labour leaders, ministers, Premier of KZN Thami Ntuli, MECs, senior government officials, and the Mayor of eThekwini Municipality.

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