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Statue of Nelson Mandela, Cape Town City Hall

Coordinates: 33°55′31″S 18°25′26″E / 33.92535°S 18.42381°E / -33.92535; 18.42381
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Statue of Nelson Mandela, Balcony Cape Town City Hall overlooking the Grand Parade
ArtistXhanti Mpakama and Barry Jackson
Year2018
MediumBronze
Dimensions195 cm (77 in)
LocationCity Hall next to the Grand Parade Cape Town
Coordinates33°55′31″S 18°25′26″E / 33.92535°S 18.42381°E / -33.92535; 18.42381
Cape Town City Hall is located near the centre of Cape Town's CBD, adjacent to the main railway station to the northeast, the Castle of Good Hope to the southeast, The Grand Parade to the southwest, and the General Post Office to the northwest.
Cape Town City Hall is located near the centre of Cape Town's CBD, adjacent to the main railway station to the northeast, the Castle of Good Hope to the southeast, The Grand Parade to the southwest, and the General Post Office to the northwest.
Cape Town City Hall
Location of Cape Town City Hall in central Cape Town

A Statue of Nelson Mandela was unveiled on 24 July 2018.[1][2][3][4][5] It was placed on the balcony of Cape Town City Hall overlooking the Grand Parade, Cape Town, South Africa.[6] Nelson Mandela was the first post-apartheid president of South Africa and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993[7]

Placing

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It was placed on exactly the same spot where Nelson Mandela made his first public speech after his release from prison on 11 February 1990.[8][9][10]

Date of unveiling

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The year was chosen to be part of the celebration of Nelson Mandela's birthday. He would have been 100 years old in 2018 if still alive. He was born on 18 July 1918[11][12][13][14]

Initiative

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It was a joint initiative of The City of Cape Town and the Government of the Western Cape. The reason was to attract more tourists to the region. A public participation exercise was run in order to get input of the people of Cape Town[15]

Unveiling

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It was done by Patricia de Lille, Alan Winde and Helen Zille[16][17] The unveiling was attended by guests from all over the world. It was one of Mrs. de Lille's last official duties as mayor of Cape Town. She was under investigation of her political party and her last day was 31 October 2018.[18] Special guests were Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and Professor Njabulo Ndebele‚ chairman of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.[19][20]

Statute

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It is a human size statute. It is 1.95m tall. It's a slightly higher than Mandela's actual size (1.85m). It is done in bronze.[21][22]

Sculptor

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Dali Tambo’s[23] company Koketso Growth[24] obtain the tender and commissioned Xhanti Mpakama and Barry Jackson to make the statue.[25][26] Mpakama's previous work includes Mandela Bust[27] and Shaka.[28] Jackson's prevouis work includes Louis van Mauritius[29] and Johannes van der Kemp[30]

Legacy Exhibition

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Cape Town City decided that after the unveiling, a legacy exhibition centre will be erected in the City Hall. Audio-visual equipment, with interactive displays, together with interpretive panels will be facilitated in the City Hall. It will include people involved in the struggle for freedom, events that happened just prior to his release and the first democratic election. On 10 December 2021, it was completed and opened by Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.[31][32][33][34][35]

Other Mandela Statues in South Africa

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Controversial temporary removal of statue

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On 11 January 2019, the day that celebrated the 29th anniversary of Mr Mandela's release, the statue was temporarily removed as a film company was shooting a movie on the parade. Cape Town City Council (under the authority of Mr D Plato, the mayor) gave permission. There was a public outcry about this removal. The statue is back in its place where it was originally commissioned.[41][42]

References

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  1. ^ "WATCH: Cape Town unveils new City Hall". Travellor24. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  2. ^ "WATCH: Mandela statue unveiled at site of his first speech after being freed from prison". IOL. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  3. ^ "Nelson Mandela statue unveiled in Cape Town". Polity. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  4. ^ Etheridge, J. (24 July 2018). "Bronze Mandela erected on balcony at Cape Town's City Hall". News24. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  5. ^ "Unveiling of the Nelson Mandela statue at Cape Town City Hall". SABC News Western Cape. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  6. ^ Bothma, N. (24 July 2018). "South Africa Nelson Mandela Statue". Agentia Nationale De Presa Agerpress Actualizeaza lumea. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  7. ^ "Nelson Mandela Biography". Encyclopaedia of World Biography. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  8. ^ "Nelson Mandela statue unveiled at Cape Town City Hall". European Press Photo Agency. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  9. ^ "Mandela delivers his first speech at the Grand Parade". South African History On line. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  10. ^ Newsroom (24 July 2018). "Madiba statue unveiled at Cape Town City Hall". 91.3FM the Voice of the Cape. Retrieved 25 July 2018. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  11. ^ "Nelson Mandela Biography". Biography.com. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  12. ^ Fitzsimons, B. (24 July 2018). "Images of the Day". Irish Times. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  13. ^ "South African hero Nelson Mandela commemorated with Cape Town sculpture". Spanish Agencia EFE. 24 July 2018.
  14. ^ "Nelson Mandela commemorated with Cape Town sculpture". News4Europe. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  15. ^ Chambers, C. (17 April 2017). "R3.5m Nelson Mandela statue for Cape Town City Hall". Business Day Newspaper. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  16. ^ African News Agency (24 July 2018). "Nelson Mandela statue unveiled in Cape Town". The Citizen Newspaper. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  17. ^ Shange, Z. (24 July 2018). "Mandela statue unveiled at Cape Town City Hall". Eye Witness News. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  18. ^ Nombembe, P (31 October 2018). "Patricia de Lille: It's my last day as Cape Town Mayor and DA member". Sunday times. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  19. ^ Farber, T. (24 July 2018). "Mandela's voice of freedom rings out again in Cape Town". Times live newspaper. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  20. ^ "Reconciliation, unity and healing". Cape Town Magazine. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  21. ^ "Cape Town sees a new Nelson Mandela statue unveiled at City Hall". The South African. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  22. ^ Head, T (24 July 2018). "Madiba once again stands tall over the Mother City". The South African. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  23. ^ "Western Cape Economic Development and Tourism on unveiling of Nelson Mandela statue at Cape Town City Hall". Western Cape Economic Development and Tourism. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  24. ^ "Heritage & Tourism consultation & planning". Department arts and Culture. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  25. ^ "Nelson Mandela statue unveiled at Cape Town City Hall". Lusa. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  26. ^ "Cape Town City Hall to honour Madiba with bronze statue". East Coast Radio. 18 July 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  27. ^ "Nelson Mandela Bust at Parliament". Pathfinda. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  28. ^ "Shaka kaSenzangakhona". National Heritage monument. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  29. ^ "Louis van Mauritius". National Heritage Monument. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  30. ^ "The long march to freedom". Camissa People. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  31. ^ Philip (18 April 2017). "Proposed Madiba statue and exhibition at City Hall to commence today". Cape Town Green Map. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  32. ^ Hansen, K. (24 July 2018). "A Monumental Tribute to Nelson Mandela Is Unveiled in Cape Town". AD Magazine. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  33. ^ "Nelson Mandela in Cape Town Legacy Exhibition Opening". MapMyway.co.za. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  34. ^ "Nelson Mandela Exhibition opened in Cape Town l". SABC News. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  35. ^ "Nelson Mandela Legacy New exhibition honours Madiba". eNCA. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  36. ^ "Nelson Mandela Square". Gauteng. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  37. ^ "18 Facts about the 9metre Mandela Statue". Brand South Africa. 11 July 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  38. ^ "Life-size Madiba statue unveiled at NMB Stadium". Algoa FM. 18 July 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  39. ^ "More on Franschhoek's luxury hotel scene". Girlahead. 9 April 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  40. ^ "Drakenstein Correctional Centre". De Leeuwenhof. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  41. ^ Kiva, M (12 February 2019). "Pics: Outrage as Madiba statue removed from Cape Town's City Hall for movie shoot". IOL news. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  42. ^ Seleka, N (13 February 2019). "Cape Town mayor disappointed that Mandela statue was not returned in time". News24. Retrieved 10 April 2019.