President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to unveil two towering statues in Durban on Tuesday honouring anti-apartheid stalwarts Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo.
According to the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, the 10-metre monuments, valued at R22-million, commemorate the pair’s role in South Africa’s liberation struggle and form part of broader efforts to position the city as a heritage tourism destination.
Mayor Cyril Xaba said the project did not divert funds away from essential services, adding that it was financed through allocations made in previous municipal budgets.
However, the initiative has drawn criticism from opposition parties, who argue that the city’s limited resources should be directed toward urgent service delivery challenges.
The Democratic Alliance in eThekwini has called on Ramaphosa to use his visit to demand firm timelines for repairing deteriorating water and sewage infrastructure.
Meanwhile, ActionSA’s KwaZulu-Natal chairperson Zwakele Mncwango said that while the party respects Mandela and Tambo’s legacy, basic services should take priority.
He cited ongoing sewer maintenance problems, persistent water shortages and widespread potholes as pressing concerns. Mncwango also raised alarms about the municipality’s finances, claiming the city has only 17 days’ cash on hand, a situation he described as evidence of poor financial management.
“Our leaders have focused on nice-to-have projects, not the must-haves,” he said.
The unveiling is expected to attract dignitaries and residents, but the debate underscores the delicate balance between preserving history and addressing the everyday needs of communities.