A towering 12-metre statue of King Shaka was unveiled with President Cyril Ramaphosa and King Misuzulu KaZwelithini leading the ceremony. This new monument replaces an earlier sculpture that was criticized for misrepresenting the legendary Zulu king. The previous statue, which depicted King Shaka with livestock, was removed after King Goodwill Zwelithini’s call for a more accurate tribute.
The original statue, unveiled before the 2010 Soccer World Cup, faced criticism for being too small and portraying King Shaka as a “herd boy.” Many felt it didn’t reflect the warrior king’s true legacy as a powerful military leader. The new sculpture is designed to better capture his role as a visionary who united the Zulu people.
The unveiling of the new statue marks a proud moment for the Zulu nation and South Africa as a whole. King Misuzulu and President Ramaphosa expressed their pride in the new representation, which honors King Shaka’s significant influence on South African and African history.
This will serve as a symbol of unity, strength, pride for the people of KZN and the entire nation, celebrating King Shaka’s contributions to Zulu history, culture
