Tenders issued for statues of E Cape heroes

EASTERN Cape-born struggle icons Oliver Tambo and Raymond Mhlaba will be honoured with 5-metre bronze statues and plaques in their home towns of Mbizana and Fort Beaufort.

The department of arts and culture has issued a tender calling for bids from “experienced and knowledgeable” service providers.

Tambo’s statue and plaque will be in his Nkantolo village in Mbizana to replace the one that was vandalised by residents in 2014.

The first statue of Oom Ray, as the first premier of a democratic Eastern Cape was known, will be erected at Tony Yengeni Square at the Corner Market, in Fort Beaufort.

The plaques that will go with the statues will be inscribed with a wellresearched inscription detailing who each of the heroes was and their contributions towards the liberation struggle, the department said in the tender documents.

“The primary objective of this project is to promote and preserve the legacy of these two legends, social cohesion and nation building.

“Broadly speaking, it is also about recovering and even comprehending memory of a complex and often troubled South African history not only for posterity but also for present knowledge production.”

There are three statues that have been built in honour of the longestserving ANC president who would have turned 100 years old last year. There is also a pending installation in Ekurhuleni Metro. This will be his third statue in his hometown.

Departmental spokeswoman Zimasa Velaphi said the two heroes “are worthy to be celebrated”.

The statue and plaques project is expected to be completed within a year after being awarded.

The closing date for applications for both tenders is on February 9 at 11am. —