THE memorial statue in honour of iSilo uShaka Zulu was officially unveiled on Thursday at King Shaka Zulu International Airport.

Dignitaries, including Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini and President Cyril Ramaphosa, as well as KZN Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli, were on hand to unveil the statue.

The statue which stands 11 metres tall, depicts King Shaka standing tall with shield and spear in hand.

“This statue stands as a proud testament to a glorious era in the life of the Zulu nation during the reign of King Shaka,” President Ramaphosa said on Thursday last week as the statue was unveiled.

Ramaphosa said the statue will not only inspire visitors to South Africa but it will also inspire locals.

“It is the greatest source of pride that King Shaka’s life, history and contribution is being retold and reclaimed by the generation born into democracy. He is among those leaders with so great a reputation that it has passed into legend. And yet for centuries, those who oppressed the South African people sought to denigrate his name to suit their own ends. Since the advent of democracy, we have worked to restore pride in the history of all the people of this great land,” he said.

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli said Thursday’s gathering was not only to unveil the statue, but to honour an enduring legacy that spans centuries – one that has helped shape not just the province, but the nation as a whole.

“This statue symbolises our respect and gratitude for a leader who shaped history through innovation and strategic acumen, carving out a legacy that inspires not only the Zulu nation but all of us. It is our shared heritage, and today, we stand together to celebrate it,” Ntuli said.

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