Mystery surrounds the removal of three sculptures in Groot Marico, including one resembling presidential hopeful Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

Her bust - together with that of North West premier Supra Mahumapelo and Struggle icon OR Tambo - at Jacob Zuma's site of arrest has gone missing.

The busts formed part of the Groot Marico Heritage Site and Liberation Route that was launched by Zuma last month.

Sowetan visited the site this week and found the concrete logs that held the busts bare.

A provincial official not authorised to speak on the matter said the busts had been brought to the site by an "exhibitor to market his work".

The source, however, could not explain how some of the sculptures were mounted on concrete logs if they were merely for exhibition.

During the launch ceremony last month, authorities promised the site would attract tourists and boost the economy of Groot Marico.

The site is dedicated to Zuma and 51 MK recruits who were arrested before they could cross into exile in Botswana.

A three-day visitors' register seen by Sowetan showed that only four people - all locals - visited the site this week.

But three security guards who were on duty on site said a higher number of visitors usually visit the site on weekends. A guard said the sculptures were removed immediately after Zuma left.

A water fountain that functioned on the day of the launch, despite ongoing water problems in the area, has since stopped working. However, Zuma's memorial remains intact and is illuminated at night.

Another security guard said construction workers were busy on site building guest houses to accommodate tourists who wished to sleep over.

But some Groot Marico residents have little regard for the monument. Lorraine Motladiele said she has only ever seen tourists driving past the site without even giving it a second thought.

"It's like a dead place. I only saw the hype when Zuma was here ... he left with the excitement, even tourists don't recognise the place."

Another resident, Dewaal van Breda, said the monument was a symbol of shame. "We are a poor town with a rich statue. It means nothing to me, it's sad that it cost government a lot of money," he said.

Johannes Moloi said nothing has changed since the statue was erected.

"We still struggle to get water and have poor roads here, we were poor before the statue [was erected], we are still poor now," Moloi said.

Provincial arts and culture spokesman Shuping Sebolecwe said the three sculptures were just for exhibition. He said Mahumapelo was also surprised to see them on the day of the launch last month.