Mandela statue saga boils over
Mandela statue has other reasons for being covered up.
The Madiba statue saga goes on as the makers of the statue continue to battle with Council over payment for the former statesmen’s sculpture.
Many will recall that the sculptors wanted Council to pay R2-million for the statue, or they would have sold it to other ‘interested buyers’.
Soon after, the saga died down and Madiba made his home in front of the municipality permanently. Now, however, the statue remains covered, and, according to Calvin Simons, one of the sculptors, there are no plans to uncover the statue any time soon. He claimed that the municipality refused to negotiate any price for the statue, let alone the R2-million that they originally asked for. Calvin said they will continue to keep the Mandela statue covered during the Dundee July parade, which makes its way through town, finishing at the municipality.
That way no provincial delegates will be able to gaze upon the iconic statue. Unless Council comes to some form of agreement with the sculptors, the Mandela statue could be covered for many more seasons to come.
