Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa has unveiled 55 statues of pre-colonial and anti-apartheid struggle heroes, which make\u00a0up the R1-billion National Heritage Monument (NHM) in Groenkloof.<\/p>\n
Some icons featured during the unveiling include Nelson Mandela, Walter and Albertina Sisulu, Anton Muziwakhe Lembede, Yusuf Dadoo, Charlotte Maxeke, and Solomon Tshekisho Plaatje.<\/p>\n
According to Mthethwa, the monument, which will ultimately feature over 500 bronze statues, carries a value of over R1 billion – and will “become a major tourist attraction, as well as a massive educational centre that any person anywhere in the world would go to when they want to know about South African history”.<\/p>\n
The project was first conceptualised in 2010 by Dali Tambo, the CEO of the National Heritage Project Company.<\/p>\n
The projected cost of the project initially\u00a0amounted to between R700 million and R800 million.<\/p>\n
This target\u00a0included the monument itself, the visitors\u2019 centre, and the roads and infrastructure complementing the monument.<\/p>\n
According to Tambo, however, the project would effectively pay for itself – with rosy targets of the monument\u00a0contributing R1 billion to GDP annually, and over R90 million in terms of tax revenues and annuities to the government.<\/p>\n
Once the project is completed, the monument will be known as “The Long Walk to Freedom”.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will tell the story that many men and women paid a supreme sacrifice to bring freedom in our land. It will tell the story that our freedom was not free,\u201d said Gauteng Premier David Makhura at the unveiling.<\/p>\n
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