Political parties in eThekwini have condemned the lavish unveiling of two statues honouring struggle icons Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo, arguing the R22 million spent could have addressed pressing service delivery crises affecting residents.
The unveiling, attended by President Cyril Ramaphosa and government officials, took place on Tuesday, while many communities continue to face ongoing water and electricity shortages.
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eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba defended the expenditure, describing the statues as part of a drive to attract tourism.
“The two giant statues of our liberation stalwarts that will be unveiled by the president tomorrow forms part of this drive to create additional tourism offerings in the city. Such projects play a key role in catalysing tourism growth, so if you want to spin the money you must first spend the money,” Xaba said during an engagement with Independent Media editors.
However, many residents feel the funds could have been better allocated to addressing urgent municipal challenges.
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Political Parties Criticise Spending Amid Crisis
The Democratic Alliance, MK Party, and Action SA slammed the project.
DA mayoral candidate Haniff Hoosen said the unveiling is ill-timed, as Durban struggles with a severe water crisis, ageing infrastructure, and extensive water losses due to underinvestment.
The MK Party highlighted collapsing infrastructure, sewage contamination, and rising crime, accusing the coalition government of prioritising symbolism over urgent municipal needs.
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Action SA KZN chairperson Zwakele Mncwango said the city has only 17 days of cash in hand, signalling financial strain. He argued that the R22 million could have been invested in repairing water networks, upgrading pump stations, resurfacing roads, or bolstering stormwater systems.
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“Instead, the coalition has chosen symbolism over service delivery,” Mncwango said, adding that true respect for Mandela and Tambo comes through ethical governance, fiscal discipline, and improving residents’ lives.
The controversy reflects growing frustration among residents who continue to experience outages and service disruptions, even as millions are spent on ceremonial projects.
Political parties and community members alike are calling for urgent focus on stabilising municipal finances and ensuring reliable water and electricity supply before further spending on symbolic initiatives.
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