From the center of Nelson Mandela Square rises a bronze titan. He stands six metres high and weighs two and a half tons, a towering presence located in Sandton, Gauteng, behind the largest retail complex in Africa.
The square was officially renamed Nelson Mandela Square on 31 March 2004. The statue was commissioned in July 2002 and completed in February 2004 to mark the 10th anniversary of South Africa's first democratic elections. It was the first-ever public statue of Mandela, unveiled by his eldest granddaughter, Ndileka Mandela.
He does not stand with a cold or stern face. Instead, he wears the Madiba shirt and is caught in a swaying motion known as the Madiba jive. Sculpted by Kobus Hattingh and Jacob Maponyane, the work was described as a very happy statue that pays tribute to the spirit of joy and celebration inherent in the people of South Africa.
The statue serves as a focal point for the entire area, with a box for donations to the Nelson Mandela Foundation placed beside it. It captures a moment of movement and celebration in the heart of the district.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Mutabor
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