The O R Tambo statute was officially unveiled by President Cyril Ramaphosa in Durban.
Image: Sipho Jack
Durban’s North Beach was the site of a significant event on Tuesday as the family of apartheid struggle icon Oliver Tambo expressed profound gratitude to the City of eThekwini for honouring him with the unveiling of a statue dedicated to his contributions to South Africa’s liberation.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the event, Tambo’s nephew, Andile Tambo, shared the family’s overwhelming joy.
“This is a significant and emotional moment for us,” he said, reflecting on their pride in being related to such a remarkable figure in history.
“Oliver Tambo dedicated his life to fighting against apartheid, and he is respected worldwide for his contributions. This is a big deal for us as a family, and we are very happy and grateful for this gesture.”
Andile further emphasised the importance of preserving history, noting that many South Africans hold Tambo in high esteem for his selfless dedication to justice and equality.
“This makes many people in South Africa consider him to be someone who has done better than other people in South Africa. As a family, we all feel great to have someone like OR Tambo in our home,” Andile said, underscoring the emotional weight of the day.
Amid the celebratory atmosphere, President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to unveil not only Tambo’s statue but also that of Nelson Mandela, both widely regarded as titans in the fight for freedom and democracy in South Africa.
However, the project has not come without controversy.
Opposition parties have criticised the city council, accusing it of misallocating resources by prioritising statues over pressing issues such as persistent water and electricity outages in the municipality.
In response, eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba defended the decision, saying that while the city continues addressing urgent infrastructure challenges, it is equally important to broaden tourism offerings and stimulate local economic growth.
“The two giant statues of our liberation stalwarts that will be unveiled by the president form part of this drive to create additional tourism offerings in the city. Such projects play a key role in catalysing tourism growth,” Xaba said.
He added that eThekwini’s tourism sector is steadily returning to pre-COVID-19 levels, with rising visitor numbers during the festive season reflecting economic progress.
To ensure the city’s recovery continues on an upward trajectory, Xaba said plans are in place to expand tourism infrastructure and enhance the range of tourism products to encourage longer stays in Durban.
“When the city built the Moses Mabhida Stadium, the Durban International Convention Centre, and uShaka Marine World, the sole purpose was to create tourism infrastructure that would position eThekwini as the preferred destination,” he said.
“With the statues, we are leveraging our liberation heritage to boost tourism and create jobs.”
DAILY NEWS