Umtata to launch new Mandela statue in September

UMTATA is set to see the establishment of a new major tourist attraction with the launch of a massive statue of Nelson Mandela cradling an injured child. The statue, created by Gauteng artist, Kurt Lasgott, was recently erected near the entrance to the R400m (US$53.5m) Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital complex. More detailed information about the hospital and statue will be released shortly before the official opening scheduled for early September. The new hospital and Mandela Freedom Statue are part of a project to turn the Nelson Mandela Metro into one of the world's tourism meccas. Commenting on the new developments, Mayor Nceba Faky said, "Projects such as the Mandela Freedom Statue offer long-term growth and job creation realities." (Natalia Thomson)