South African President , Jacob Zuma Unveils Nelson Mandela ‘Unity’ Statue

The South African President Jacob Zuma on Monday unveiled a nine-metre bronze statue of Nelson Mandela with his arms outstretched to symbolise unity and reconciliation. Reuters reports that the 4.5 tonne statue was the largest of Mandela created in the world and was inaugurated on the lawn of South Africa’s hilltop ‘Union Buildings’, the seat of the central government, overlooking the capital Pretoria.

The brown sandstone Union Buildings, built by British colonial architect Herbert Baker, were the site of Mandela’s swearing in as president nearly two decades ago.

It was also the location where his body lay in state for three days last week as over 100,000 people paid their respects in person, before his state funeral in Eastern Cape.