Durban — Opposition parties in eThekwini Municipality have called for an urgent debate on the erection of statues around the Durban city hall precinct.
This comes after the eThekwini Community Services Committee (CSC) tabled a report before the eThekwini Executive Committee, on Tuesday, seeking approval for R1 million for the installation of a 9-metre bronze statue of Oliver Reginald Tambo and Nelson Mandela in the City Hall precinct. The CSC also wants to rename the Francis Farewell precinct in honour of Tambo.
The CSC is requesting authority to be granted to the Parks, Recreation and Culture unit (PRC) to incur expenditure in the amount of R1m to erect (install) the statues.
The report stated that the statues were commissioned by the eThekwini Municipality before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and were currently in the process of being shipped from the foundry to the Durban Harbour.
The statues would be installed along Church Walk (outside the City Hall) in the City Hall precinct so that the entire heritage precinct is transformed, inclusive and representative, stated the report. The precinct is bordered by Dorothy Nyembe (Gardiner) Street and Anton Lembede (Smith) Street and Dr Pixley KaSeme (West) Street. Currently, it has many statues of colonial influencers and leaders who served during apartheid.
The CSC was also seeking approval for the statue of Archie Gumede which was commissioned by the National Department of Arts and Culture to be installed next to the City Hall.
The CSC also wanted approval to rename Francis Farewell Square in honour of Tambo.
The head of PRC has to engage the families of Tambo and Mandela to get their consent regarding the statues. The item was deferred pending a multi-party discussion.
DA Exco member Councillor Yogis Govender called for full disclosure on how much money the city had spent on the statue project over the years. Govender stated that it was unacceptable that the city was spending money on this long outstanding project when the crisis at hand was being ignored, like the toxic spills suffocating the beaches and rivers, which is the mandate of the very same unit.
Govender said over the years the expenditure appeared to have ballooned, with project estimates initially touted at R20m. Govender said further adjustments over the years were quite contentious.
“In the 2020 adjustment budget funds to the tune of R6.5m originally earmarked for specialist firefighting vehicles were redirected for the two contentious Struggle statues. In the same budget, a further sum of R1.3m was adjusted away from purchasing vehicles. Last year money was redirected away from the Tongaat Water Works to the statues,” Govender explained.
DA Exco head Thabani Mthethwa stated that while there was a need to document history, there needed to be a dialogue on these types of projects and he accordingly called for a deferral of the item, which the ANC acceded to.
IFP Exco member Councillor Mdu Nkosi said the precinct should not only be about ANC leaders. He said the amaKhosi played a role in the development of the province and Durban. Nkosi was concerned about the money that was diverted from the oThongathi water pump station to fund the statues.
“To me, it is something that is incorrect. I do not have any qualms with the leadership of ANC but I will continue disagreeing on the item,” he said.
EFF councillor Thabani Miya said honouring one party as if they owned the Struggle was unfair. Miya asked the council to consider others like Dan Danisa of Sanco.
Miya was concerned about the money spent on the statues.
“We do not have to look nationally only. Look at the radicals and people who have contributed. Strini Moodley for example contributed immensely and even went to Robben Island. Council is always considering one and the same people. We object to this item,” Miya said.
eThekwini deputy mayor Philani Mavundla said everyone knew the role played by the two icons but the council needed to do justice to the role played by the Zulu people. Mavundla said around the City Hall there were many statues that dealt with one particular race. Mavundla said when you enter the main entrance to the City Hall “our” kings are put on the floor while other statues are raised three metres up and one cannot climb or stand on them.
“People are standing on our kings and some of us really feel this is not called for. Maybe it was done in hindsight and maybe it happened because of budget constraints. King Shaka Airport had the statue removed and not installed for years and nobody can tell us anything about it,” Mavundla said.
“Some of us are activists. If we only think the only leaders are the four leaders in the ANC, what will happen when the ANC is no longer in power? All these statues will come down,” he added.
Mavundla said the council needed to have a dialogue on this issue and discuss it. Early this year Mavundla submitted a motion dealing with statues.
“Whoever started it was only looking at the leadership of the governing party. It seems as if others played no role in building the nation,” Mavundla said.
Exco ANC leader Nkosenhle Madlala said there was a need for debate around the broader issues of heritage and acknowledge and honour those who contributed to the history of the city and province. Madlala said a council resolution was taken, the procurement was done and the statues were now ready.
“Whether we like it or not we must then erect those statues because if we do not then we will be incurring a wasteful expenditure. We have already paid for them,” Madlala said.
He called for a multiparty discussion. eThekwini mayor councillor Mxolisi Kaunda said necessary arrangements must be made to keep these statues safe when they arrive.
“We spent a lot of money. Our engagements should not be prolonged so that we are able to find a resolution on this matter in a short space of time,” Kaunda said.
Daily News