Statue of Tambo unveiled in Mbizana
EASTERN Cape premier Phumulo Masualle unveiled a lifesize bronze statue of antiapartheid leader and longestserving ANC president Oliver Tambo at his Mbizana hometown yesterday.
The 1.7m statue cost R1.2million and was sculpted by the Koketso group, a company affiliated with Tambo’s son, Dali.
It is a second statue to be unveiled in the rural town as there already is another one at his Nkantolo village – which was burnt at a heritage site two years ago.
Dali, who attended the unveiling ceremony, said the event was a sign of recognition from the people of the region, Alfred Nzo district municipality and province as many had fought and died for freedom.
Dali said the statue represented all fallen heroes who fought here “undeterred and with very little assistance from outside”.
“Our father loved this place and although he went and fought outside the province his heart was always here. So it’s very significant for us as family and it makes us very proud of this region,” said Dali.
The normally sleepy town was a hive of activity as residents joined in the ceremony.
“The statue should serve as a reminder that the place you are born in does not determine who you will become in life,” Dali said. “I hope his statue will be the first of many because we must have places where our children will be able to go to those statues for reference and see what he looked like and what Alfred Nzo looked like and what [1800s Xhosa King] Hintsa [ka Khawuta] looked like,” he said.
Dali called on residents not to destroy or vandalise property or statues when they raised concerns with authorities.
“Sometimes you have individuals who are frustrated and angry – who feel invisible and they vent those feelings in ways that are unfortunate.
“I do not think it was a deliberate attack on him [burning the Tambo statue in Nkantolo] but just a way to show their anger,” he said.
Dali said heritage sites should have an economic benefit for locals.
“If you create a heritage site, as a local person I must be able to open a restaurant.
“Someone else must be able to sell T-shirts with faces of O R [Tambo] and Alfred [Nzo] and other icons.
“They must feel a part of it, not just feel like it was something that was plonked there. Locals must feel that they have a part in that as well, and that it belongs to them too,” he said.
Masualle said they felt inspired by the role Tambo and other anti-apartheid activists had played in the struggle.
“It gives us a sense of pride to know that even in these rural settings great stars have emerged who have shone not just in the country but throughout the world.
“It encourages us to want to develop these areas so that the world all over can come here and see and appreciate this history.
“In time we hope to see more leaders emerge from such places,” said Masualle. —