Ramaphosa on Mandela, Tambo statues: 'Their struggle contribution is incalculable'

President Cyril Ramaphosa said the price tag for the newly unveiled Nelson Mandela and Oliver Reginald Tambo statues should not be a cause for concern.

But the Democratic Alliance is not convinced nor impressed.

A total of R22 million was spent to erect the two monuments, which were unveiled in Durban on Tuesday.

Located at Moses Mabhida Stadium and the Durban north beachfront, the statues symbolise efforts to honour the country’s struggle stalwarts.

Ramaphosa said South Africans should focus less on the cost and more on the legacy and impact of the two iconic leaders.

“The cost of what they contributed to our struggle is incalculable. We cannot even begin to count what it cost for us to be where we are. In stone and bronze, we continue to write our history. Not the history of those who held power unjustly but the history of those who refused to let injustice have the final word.”

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However, the Democratic Alliance (DA) believes the funds should have been directed towards more pressing service delivery needs.

While government maintains the monuments will significantly boost tourism in the city, critics have labelled the project a waste of taxpayers’ money.

The DA’s eThekwini mayoral candidate Haniff Hoosen said there are far more urgent priorities that require funding.

“Our city is in crisis. We have a water crisis. Communities go without water for weeks on end. Sixty percent 60% of the water in our city is being wasted because our city leadership didn’t brother to fix the pipes for years.”