The statue caused outrage since it was erected on 28 September 2018.
Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtshweni has ordered that arts and culture MEC Thandi Shongwe remove a statue of the late South African icon Nelson Mandela outside the provincial legislature.
Mtshweni says she is “dealing with the unhappiness” that the erection of the statue has created since 28 September 2018.
“Shortly after the official unveiling of the statue, Premier Mtshweni noted a number of material artistic deficiencies, and subsequently wrote to Culture Sports and Recreation MEC Thandi Shongwe to address the inconsistencies,” spokesman Zibonele Mncwango said.
The statue cost R8.3 million and the DA has already asked the Auditor-General to investigate the matter.
Mncwango said Mtshweni realised the statue failed to pay homage to Madiba and Shongwe has until the last week of November 2018 “to enforce remedial action”.
“The statue had failed in its intended objective to pay homage to the legacy of former President Nelson Mandela,” Mncwango said.
He added that Mtshweni respects the views that people have been raising concerning the statue and was now calling for calm as the issue is being resolved.
(edited by MLM)
Send tip-offs to editor@013.co.za
