Johannesburg gives 6-meter Nelson Mandela Statue to Palestine

posted on: Apr 28, 2016

The city of Johannesburg in South Africa gifted a six-meter statue of Nelson Mandela to the Palestinian Authority. The statue was unveiled yesterday by President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, the city where the PA currently works out of in Palestine. Authorities say the statue is symbolic of the shared struggles of Palestinians and South Africans in regard to apartheid, human rights, and colonization. The statue came just in time for World Press Freedom Day being honored on May 3. The statue can be seen in the upscale area of Al-Tireh in Ramallah.

Andoula Agency

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday unveiled a statue of South African anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

The unveiling ceremony was attended by Palestinian government ministers, diplomats, the leaders of various Palestinian factions and hundreds of Palestinian citizens.

The six-meter bronze statue of Mandela arrived from Johannesburg to Ramallah on Thursday.

The statue, which was made with the consent of the Nelson Mandela Foundation and funded by the municipality of Johannesburg, was given as a gift from South Africa to the people of Palestine.

Ramallah Mayor Musa Hadeed told Anadolu Agency that the statue was “a message of freedom and equality to the entire world”.

“Nelson Mandela is seen as a universal symbol of peace who still inspires people across the globe,” he said.

“This statue holds special importance for the Palestinian people who have continued Mandela’s struggle against racism,” he added.

Source: www.dailysabah.com