Andre Prinsloo and Ruhan Janse van Vuuren, the sculptors behind the newly-erected Nelson Mandela statue at the Union Buildings, have a secret hidden in Madiba’s ear.

Because they weren’t allowed to put their signature on any part of the statue – they decided to take matters into their own hands – they put a little rabbit in there.

There was a furore when the rabbit was first discovered on the nine-metre statue, but the artists have now come forward with an official apology, which was accepted by the department of arts and culture.

“We accept their apology and that their intentions were honourable,” department spokesman Josias Pila said in a statement.

He also said that a more appropriate artist signature would have been preferred, and that the department was considering how to retain the sculpture’s integrity without damaging it.

[Source : Times Live]