PE launched Freedom Statue competition

PORT Elizabeth has launched a competition to design an iconic Statue of Freedom that will adorn the city’s harbour. The statue is one of the core projects for the revitalisation of the Port Elizabeth city centre. The competition is open to designs of statues, buildings and monuments with a maximum height of 100 metres, and should cost R50m to construct and be situated where the harbour meets the beach at its most seaward point. Only entries from South Africans or South Africans working in collaboration with a foreign consortium or individual will be accepted. “The ideas that are being presented even at this early stage are really exciting and take the concept of an iconic freedom memorial to new levels,” said Constitutional Court judge Albie Sachs, convenor of the panel of judges. “The Statue of Freedom must be something that creates jobs and opportunities by attracting visitors from around the world,” said Pierre Voges, head of the Mandela Bay Development Agency. The remainder of the Freedom Precinct will match the winning design. It will include a Freedom Museum, retail, catering, public facilities and a possible children’s centre. The winner will be announced in July 2005. For more information visit www.thefreedomstatue.com. (Darren Sandras)