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.

It followed a ten-day period of mourning and celebrating Mandela’s life after his death at the age of 95.

Nelson Mandela was given a state funeral at his ancestral home in Qunu in the Eastern Cape on Sunday.

African National Congress members, veterans of the fight against apartheid and foreign dignitaries – including several African presidents and the Prince of Wales – were among the guests.

The statue was unveiled by President Jacob Zuma on South Africa’s Day of Reconciliation, a public holiday which marks the end of racial conflict in South Africa.

During his address at the funeral on Sunday, Mr Zuma pledged to build on Mr Mandela’s legacy.

“As you take your final steps, is that South Africa will continue to rise… because we dare not fail you,” he said.

South Africa become a democracy in 1994, ending white minority rule.

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.

-BBC

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