Byline: Levhuwani Matumba
26 April 2022
The Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation (DCSR) in Mpumalanga has condemned false reports on Social Media which suggest that the Provincial Government has spent R15 million to erect statues of two liberation heroes.
The late former President of the ANC, OR Tambo and former ANC Women’s League President, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela are cited in the two statues.
The Department was appalled by the false information and warned the authors against the misinformation.
“We are appalled by this false information. Neither the Department nor the Provincial Government has ever commissioned such statues.
As such we reject any information which suggests spending money for such statues,” Mpumalanga DCSR Spokesperson Sibongile Nkosi explained.
Nkosi says circulation of false information does not only border on libel act, but undermines the image of the provincial government.
“DCSR is a custodian of arts and Heritage in the Province.
Therefore the process of commissioning statues are communicated with all affected stakeholders, through established government communication protocols.
The fact that information of this nature was never communicated, this simply means our provincial government has nothing to do with the statues.
The authors must desist from linking the government or should be prepared to face the consequences”, she warned.
Mr Fanyana Sibanyoni responded through a recorded video to the DCSR that the statues erected at Raisibe Gardens in Embalenhle depicts his family members, not the ANC stalwarts.
He further rubbished rumors that the Mpumalanga government spent money on those statues at Raisibe Gardens.
