Thought to be politically symbolic, Andires Botha’s sculptures continue to be a contentious piece of pubic art

The artist and the eThekwini Municipality have now reached an out-of-court settlement after work on the project was halted in 2010.

For the past two years, Andries Botha’s incomplete elephant sculptures have stood abandoned in Warwick Junction, Durban, slowly being destroyed.

Vandals have destroyed an elephant sculpture in Durban, and damaged two more, apparently in search of scrap metal.

Andries Botha’s series of elephant sculptures around the world has brought awareness to issues of conservation — and upset the ANC in Durban.

A public artwork planned for Durban at a reported cost of R1,5-million has been scuppered, allegedly because the trio of elephants are an IFP symbol.