The construction of President Jacob Zuma's 6m high bronze statue at a site where he was captured by the apartheid security forces in Groot Marico has raised concerns amongthe North West town's residents.
Residents of Groot Marico township Lebuile said government could have focused more on developing their township before building a statue.
They said the unemployment rate among youth was high, infrastructure was in poor condition and there was a lack of basic services.
Early this month, the North West government issued a R6-million tender for the design and construction of the statue.
The project entails erecting a historical monument and construction of an interpretation centre, which will be a display of oral and written history recordings of the liberators that passed through and some having been arrested in and around the Groot Marico area as they attempted to get through to Botswana.
Lebuile residents said the statue will just be a structure that will be viewed by tourists but they will not benefit from it. Resident Pastor Segwabe complained that the least government could have done was create farming cooperatives in an area where 80% of the people are farm dwellers.
"We hear there will be a statue but we don't have a primary school, water and jobs. We are going to see that statue every time but it will not help us with anything," he said.
Another resident, Abey Sekgalo said: " Our children use scholar transport that always breaks down."
But provincial spokesman Brian Setswambung said there were many "monumental" benefits to having the statue built in the area.
"Our children will, through this statue, know the selflessness of our struggle icons and the role they played in defeating apartheid and ushering in a democratic order," he said.
Local councillor Solomon Themba also said the project would benefit the residents by "creating permanent jobs".
Arts and culture spokeswoman Edith Mogapi said her department decided on a capture site in Groot Marico because Zuma was arrested there in 1963, while he and 45 other Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) recruits were on their way to Zambia for military training.
'Zuma's statue won't help us' - Groot Marico residents
The construction of President Jacob Zuma's 6m high bronze statue at a site where he was captured by the apartheid security forces in Groot Marico has raised concerns amongthe North West town's residents.
Residents of Groot Marico township Lebuile said government could have focused more on developing their township before building a statue.
They said the unemployment rate among youth was high, infrastructure was in poor condition and there was a lack of basic services.
Early this month, the North West government issued a R6-million tender for the design and construction of the statue.
The project entails erecting a historical monument and construction of an interpretation centre, which will be a display of oral and written history recordings of the liberators that passed through and some having been arrested in and around the Groot Marico area as they attempted to get through to Botswana.
Lebuile residents said the statue will just be a structure that will be viewed by tourists but they will not benefit from it. Resident Pastor Segwabe complained that the least government could have done was create farming cooperatives in an area where 80% of the people are farm dwellers.
"We hear there will be a statue but we don't have a primary school, water and jobs. We are going to see that statue every time but it will not help us with anything," he said.
Another resident, Abey Sekgalo said: " Our children use scholar transport that always breaks down."
But provincial spokesman Brian Setswambung said there were many "monumental" benefits to having the statue built in the area.
"Our children will, through this statue, know the selflessness of our struggle icons and the role they played in defeating apartheid and ushering in a democratic order," he said.
Local councillor Solomon Themba also said the project would benefit the residents by "creating permanent jobs".
Arts and culture spokeswoman Edith Mogapi said her department decided on a capture site in Groot Marico because Zuma was arrested there in 1963, while he and 45 other Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) recruits were on their way to Zambia for military training.
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