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Nelson Mandela statue unveiled in Pretoria by Zuma | Nelson Mandela statue unveiled in Pretoria by Zuma |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A statue of Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first black president, has been unveiled in the capital, Pretoria, a day after he was buried. | A statue of Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first black president, has been unveiled in the capital, Pretoria, a day after he was buried. |
The nine-metre (30ft) bronze statue has been erected at the Union Buildings, the government headquarters. | The nine-metre (30ft) bronze statue has been erected at the Union Buildings, the government headquarters. |
The statue, with Mr Mandela's hands reaching outward, was intended to show that he had embraced the whole nation, President Jacob Zuma said. | |
Mr Mandela was given a state funeral at his ancestral home on Sunday. | |
African National Congress (ANC) members, veterans of the fight against apartheid and foreign dignitaries - including several African presidents and the Prince of Wales - attended the funeral ceremony in the village of Qunu in South Africa's Eastern Cape province. | |
It followed a 10-day period of mourning and celebrating Mr Mandela's life after his death at the age of 95. | It followed a 10-day period of mourning and celebrating Mr Mandela's life after his death at the age of 95. |
The national flag was raised on Monday from its half-mast position, and was flying as normal. | |
'Battle of Blood River' | |
The statue was unveiled on South Africa's Day of Reconciliation, a public holiday which marks the end of racial conflict in South Africa. | |
"Former President Mandela is associated with the promotion of reconciliation which is why the day was chosen for the unveiling," said the government. | |
During white minority rule, 16 December was called the Day of Covenant to honour the victory of Afrikaners over a Zulu army in an 1838 clash known as the Battle of Blood River. | |
More than a century later, on 16 December 1961, Mr Mandela launched an armed group, Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation), to fight South Africa's white minority rule. | |
It led to his arrest and imprisonment for 27 years. | |
After he became president in 1994 at the end of minority rule, he used the day to urge South Africans to set aside their differences and to unite. | |
During his address at the funeral on Sunday, Mr Zuma pledged to build on Mr Mandela's legacy. | During his address at the funeral on Sunday, Mr Zuma pledged to build on Mr Mandela's legacy. |
"As your journey ends today, ours must continue in earnest... South Africa will continue to rise because we dare not fail you," he said. | |
Mr Mandela's body lay in state at the Union Buildings for three days last week, at least 100,000 people filed past his open casket to pay their last respects. | Mr Mandela's body lay in state at the Union Buildings for three days last week, at least 100,000 people filed past his open casket to pay their last respects. |
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