The ANC's recent unveiling of statues of Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela has sparked debate over the prioritisation of heritage projects versus pressing community needs.
Image: Supplied
The African National Congress (ANC) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) is facing mounting pressure to consider erecting statues of its founding president, John Langalibalele Dube, and the late Albert Luthuli.
This comes on the heels of recent public discontent with the eThekwini Municipality’s decision to honour Oliver Tambo with a statue ahead of pivotal local figures, Dube and Luthuli, who played significant roles in the formation of the ANC.
Party spokesperson Fanle Sibisi acknowledged that statues of Dube and Luthuli may resonate more strongly with the KZN community, given their historical importance.
“You can’t safely say there’s nothing that is being done about them,” he said, assuring that the ANC was committed to recognising the contributions of its respected leaders.
However, he pointed out that existing memorials for other struggle icons could dilute the focus, and that decisions about new statues were often shaped by public sentiment.
The unveiling of the statues, which was carried out by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday, also received stern criticism from local politicians and residents.
They believe that the R22 million spent on the striking 10-metre-tall statues of Tambo and former President Nelson Mandela could have been redirected towards more pressing service delivery issues instead of monuments.
“These statues serve as reminders of our struggles and the sacrifices made for our liberation,” Sibisi reiterated.
Durban resident Phumzile Dlamini said: “We need to prioritise service delivery over monuments.”
Sibisi said his party was cognisant of the complexities associated with statues, but believed there was a fine balance between celebrating heritage and attending to immediate community needs.
He compared it to past instances of violence, such as the burning of libraries, which undermined educational resources vital for community development.
“We are at a crossroads where the urgency for housing, sanitation and job creation stands juxtaposed with the need to honour our historical icons.”
Sibisi said the ANC was mindful of its mandate to bridge the gap between acknowledging historical contributions and meeting present-day needs.
“The legacy of our freedom fighters is essential, but we must also ensure that we are not losing sight of the issues that affect our communities every day.”
Among those who criticised the municipality over its decision to erect the statues was the Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP).
The MKP said there was a stark contrast between the celebratory unveiling and the hardships eThekwini residents face daily.
“As sewage flows into rivers and taps run dry, the President commemorates struggle icons with bronze statues, as if that can remedy the lack of basic services, crumbling infrastructure and spiralling unemployment.”
In a statement released by the MKP, the party said icons like Tambo would be appalled by the current state of the ANC.
DAILY NEWS