Nelson Mandela’s new statue in Glasgow has been given the city’s traditional welcome of a traffic cone placed on its head just days after it was unveiled.
The monument was revealed in Nelson Mandela Place on Friday, marking 33 years since the former South African president was granted the Freedom of the City.
However, it didn’t take long before someone added the familiar Glasgow finishing touch.
The stunt echoes the city’s famous Duke of Wellington statue outside the Gallery of Modern Art, which has become synonymous with having a traffic cone balanced on its head.
The new Mandela monument was created by artist Alan B Herriot, whose design was selected from five proposals displayed at Glasgow City Chambers last year.
It is estimated to have cost around £180,000, with organisers saying the money was raised entirely through donations and support, without using public funds.
Brian Filling, chair of the Nelson Mandela Scottish Memorial Foundation, said the statue would serve as a lasting tribute to Mandela and the South African people’s struggle for freedom.
‘This will be a permanent memorial to Nelson Mandela and the struggle of the South African people and our solidarity, and that’s why Glasgow is important in that whole history,’ he said.
However, social media users online have debated whether the cone tradition – which even featured during Scotland’s 2026 World Cup campaign – was appropriate for a memorial that honoured the anti-apartheid leader.
Mandela visited Glasgow on October 9, 1993, when thousands gathered in George Square to see him receive the Freedom of the City.
Glasgow had become the first city in the world to award him the honour in 1981, while he was still imprisoned on Robben Island.
He spent 27 years behind bars before his release in 1990 and became South Africa’s president in 1994, following the end of apartheid.
Describing the unveiling of the monument, the Lord Provost said: ‘Today marks a historic moment for our city as we gather in Nelson Mandela Place to unveil a permanent statue of a man whose name has long been woven into Glasgow’s history and whose values continue to inspire people across the world.
‘This is a proud day for Glasgow. A city that forged a unique relationship with Nelson Mandela long before he became president of South Africa and long before the apartheid regime finally fell.
‘At a time at a time when some seek to spread misinformation, foster suspicion, and divide communities, Glasgow remains unwavering in its belief that diversity is a strength.
‘We are a city enriched by the people who have chosen to make their home here. Bringing cultures, talents, and perspectives from across the world.’