Pres. Zuma unveils Nelson Mandela’s 30ft bronze statue in Pretoria (PHOTO)

by Oke Efagene

Mandela's statue

A nine metre (30ft) bronze statue of South Africa’s first black president, Nelson Mandela, was unveiled today in the nation’s capital, Pretoria by the current president, Jacob Zuma.

The statue of the late icon has been erected at the Union Buildings, the government headquarters.

The unveiling of the statue comes after a 10-day period of mourning and celebrating of Mandela’s life after his death at the age of 95.

According to reports:

 Mandela was given a state funeral at his ancestral home in Qunu in the Eastern Cape on Sunday.

African National Congress members, veterans of the fight against apartheid and foreign dignitaries – including several African presidents and the Prince of Wales – were among the guests.

The statue was unveiled by President Jacob Zuma on South Africa’s Day of Reconciliation, a public holiday which marks the end of racial conflict in South Africa.

During his address at the funeral on Sunday, Zuma pledged to build on Mandela’s legacy.

“As you take your final steps, is that South Africa will continue to rise… because we dare not fail you,” he said.

South Africa become a democracy in 1994, ending white minority rule.

Mandela’s body lay in state at the Union Buildings for three days last week, at least 100,000 people filed past his open casket to pay their last respects.

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