President Cyril Ramaphosa has revealed two statues of Nelson Mandela in commemoration of the 2023 International Nelson Mandela Day.
The statues, located at the Nelson Mandela Museum’s Bhunga Building in Mthatha and the Qunu Youth and Heritage Centre, represent different aspects of Mandela’s life.
These statues should serve as reminder to those of us elected to serve the South African people that we must redouble our efforts to build a better South Africa that leaves no-one behind.#MandelaDay2023 #LeaveNoOneBehind 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/dIxm8dUsob
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) July 18, 2023
The statue at the museum symbolizes Mandela as a global icon and statesman, while the one in Qunu depicts him as a traditional man influenced by his cultural values.
Ramaphosa emphasized the significance of the statues in preserving Mandela’s memory and stated that both sites would attract tourists interested in Mandela’s history and legacy.
He also urged elected officials to prioritize building a more inclusive South Africa.