Secret hidden in Mandela statue

9-meter (29.5-foot) sculpture of Nelson Mandela, with a barely visible sculpted rabbit tucked inside one of the bronze ears. The statue is billed as the biggest statue of the South African leader. Officials want the miniature bunny removed from the statue, which was unveiled outside the government complex in Pretoria, the capital, on Dec. 16, a day after Mandela's funeral. (AP)



"We want to restore the integrity of the sculpture as soon as possible," Mogomotsi Mogodiri, spokesman for the ministry of arts and culture told AFP.


The two bronze sculptors - Andre Prinsloo and Ruhan Janse van Vuuren - who added the mammal as their 'signature' of the work, have apologised for doing so without permission.

"We accepted their apology," Mogodiri said, adding it was unclear how long it would take to extract the rabbit from the statue's ear.



It was unveiled just a day after Mandela was buried.


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