The statue of the mineworker arose from demands by mine unions at wage negotiations in 2007 for a monument to recognise the role of black mineworkers.
A giant concrete sculpture depicts a kneeling black miner working at the mine face. At the back of the mine face is signage. Erected in 2013, the monument enjoys high visibility as part of the Main Street Mining Mall, while at the same time helping to fill an important gap in the story for mining as told in this outdoor exhibition. Whereas many of the displays have concentrated on the Randlords and mine-owners who made their fortune from mining, the new monument helps recognise and appreciate those who toiled underground are the backbone of the mining industry. This is a progressive monument from a worker perspective, which helped challenge the dominant narrative of the Main Street heritage displays.
The statue of the mineworker arose from demands by mine unions at wage negotiations in 2007 for a monument to recognise the role of black mineworkers.
A culmination of research gathered over many years, the Online Johannesburg Heritage Register is being launched on Nelson Mandela Day 18 July 2025.
Among the many heritage sites featured is Chancellor House, the downtown offices of Mandela and Tambo Attorneys in the 1950s. After having been vacant and shuttered for more than a decade, this iconic building is being revived and brought to life once again as offices for the Community Development Department, which oversees the City’s Arts, Culture & Heritage Services.
