Mohamed Ameen Dabhelia – 2018/10/02

International Relations Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has defended the appearance of the Nelson Mandela Statue gifted to the United Nations last week.

A social media storm erupted over the likeness of the statue with many airing views that the bronze metal did not create a fair reflection of the country’s first democratically elected leader.

Sisulu attended her first closed meeting of the United Nations Security Council yesterday as the country is invited to be an observer of the processes ahead of taking up its seat on the 1st of January 2019.

“We approved it when it was in works, of course bronze, which is what it is now has a different texture, a different finish to it, but its longevity is absolute.”

The statue continues to stir debate, with many observers arguing that it does not look like Madiba and that the texture of his hair is not accurately reflected.

Jeepers creepers, is this much talked about statue of #NelsonMandela unveiled at the @UN in New York today an authentic depiction of Madiba? No way Jose. Hell no. Not by a mile! pic.twitter.com/l0P0xSdb5B

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) September 24, 2018

‘Despite what you might assume by looking at the object, this isn’t the sculptors’ first attempt at making a Mandela statue.’ https://t.co/hKpvA1uJGD

— Times Select (@TimesSelect) September 26, 2018