Mandla Mandela: No more Rhodes

24 March 2015 - 10:17 By SUTHENTIRA GOVENDER and JEROME CORNELIUS

Nelson Mandela's oldest grandson, Mandla Mandela, has joined the call to remove symbols honouring Cecil John Rhodes from public spaces. Mandla Mandela, who styles himself as the custodian of Madiba's legacy, even stepped up the campaign by suggesting that Rhodes's name should be removed from The Mandela Rhodes Place in Cape Town and from The Mandela Rhodes Foundation."The revolution must intensify," he said on Sunday in an Instagram post under a picture of students carrying a banner with the words, "Rhodes Must Fall".Nelson Mandela lent his name to the foundation in 2003, telling a gathering at Westminster Hall, London, that the "bringing together of these two names represents a symbolic moment in the closing of the historic circle".He had added: "We know with confidence that the work of The Mandela Rhodes Foundation will substantively contribute to a better life for the people of South Africa and further abroad on the African continent."Mandla obtained a degree in Politics from Rhodes University.Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba responded to Mandla' s post saying: "I support it too".The Mandela Rhodes Foundation said it would not comment before a "stakeholders' meeting" last night. Protesters at the University of Cape Town have staged a sleep-in at Bremner Hall, demanding that vice-chancellor Max Price "organises an emergency meeting of council this [Friday] to discuss the processes involved in removing the statue from this campus".The group, called Rhodes Must Fall, added: "We will remain in Bremner building until we receive confirmation of this."South African Students' Congress president Siyabonga Ntombela said the end of the week was "D-day" .He said that if management deferred the situation, further action would be taken."At this point we can't reveal what, but a plan of action is always there," he said...

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.