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DISAPPOINTED: Artist Calvin Lekgoara says he does not understand why Capricorn district municipality is taking so long to hand over the throne, similar to the one he is sitting on here, which he made for President Jacob Zuma. PHOTOS: MOYAHABO MABEBA

GIFT: Aganang executive member Elizabeth Kgatla (far left), with artist Calvin Lekgoara and CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Achmat Dangor, during the handover of the throne made for the elder statesman, Nelson Mandela. Pic: Moyahabo Mabeba. 06/05/2010. © Sowetan.

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The decorative throne was created by artist Calvin Lekgoara, who had previously made a similar throne for former president Nelson Mandela.

According to Lekgoara, the throne was supposed to have been handed over to Zuma on January 8 to coincide with the ANC's centenary celebrations.

The municipality had agreed to organise a handover. Since then Lekgoara has been urging municipal officials to organise the event - to no avail.

Municipality spokesman Moffat Senyatsi this wek denied any knowledge of the throne or when it was supposed to have been handed over.

Senyatsi suggested that Lekgoara come to the municipality's office to discuss the matter but Lekgoara insisted the throne was there and was to be handed over by the municipality.

Lekgoara, of Ga-Rapitsi in the Moletjie area, expressed his disappointment, saying the delay was making his hard work a futile exercise.

The throne Lekgoara had made for Mandela was accepted on the former president's behalf by his wife, Graça Machel.

It currently has a place at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg among the iconic stateman's many other gifts.

The thrones are both made of cattle horns, wood and steel and covered with cow skin and sisal ropes.

On Mandela's, a special message is engraved: "You are an incorruptible seed of freedom".

"It is a dream come true," Lekgoara had said when Mandela's throne was handed over.

"I am honoured and humbled that the foundation has accepted the gift and pray that the old man gets it.

"We owe our freedom and democracy to people like Mandela. People like me see the need to return the favour by giving him special gifts."

Lekgoara won the arts and culture award at the Aganang local municipality's annual Achievers Awards in 2010. Aganang forms part of the Capricorn district municipality.

• This article was first published in the printed newspaper and eEdition on 9 October 2012. Click on this link to view the eEdition

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Tue Jun 18 07:52:49 SAST 2013 ::

Oct 10, 2012

RobinH

"similar to the one he is sitting on" - HELLO EDITOR. LOOK AT THE PICTURE. NO-ONE SITTING ON IT!!! I know what you are trying to say, but please, you are a newspaper, try actually to say what you are trying to say. This is just silly and obviously pure slackness.
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Oct 10, 2012

lucky7

On Mandela's, a special message is engraved: "You are an incorruptible seed of freedom."

On Zuma's, a special message he should engrave: "You are a corrupt and play boy from Nkandla"


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Oct 10, 2012

MJOKA

Shawara must stop waisting our tax money that thing is good for him ngesishwabha


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Oct 10, 2012

Seja-Bana

wena lekgoara, what did you do for Thabo thibos Mbeki? when i think of him, i see petrol price being R7.00, R8.00. but with the current leadership, it has concieved + half of that. R12.00
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Oct 10, 2012

asaowe

Buti that was 5yrs ago, u blive petrol would hv been around that money now,
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Oct 10, 2012

Shredder

@Sowetan - " similar to the one he is sitting on here,"

No one is sitting on the throne.

@RobinH - Good morning Rob.
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Oct 10, 2012

RobinH

AHA. I see you have changed the caption to "showing here". GOOD!
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Oct 10, 2012

RobinH

And changed to the picture you had intitally planned. Better.
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Oct 10, 2012

DJ-Winner

Seja-Bana
wena lekgoara, what did you do for Thabo thibos Mbeki? when i think of him, i see petrol price being R7.00, R8.00. but with the current leadership, it has concieved + half of that. R12.00
..........................................
You must learn that the cost of living increases every year. During Mbeki era, the loaf of bread was R5.00, now it is R10.00. During Mandela era it was R2.00. That is why your salary gets cost of living adjustments every year...

Again, the petrol price increase is encouraged by the political instability in the middle east and by Europian crisis...
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Oct 10, 2012

THEmadame2B-BBEE

Huh, the throne is from Limpopo, Zuma won't take it, maybe it can fly during the night..kWAAAAA
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