In the late 1980s a magnificent statue of a rearing stallion was erected outside the Sandton Civic Centre near the corner of Rivonia and West (just up from where the Gautrain Station is today). It was surrounded by a fountain and became an instant landmark in the rapidly expanding Sandton CBD.
Sandton's famous stallion (Sandton Civic Foundation)
The statue was donated to the Sandton City Council by Toyota South Africa. It appears as though the choice of a stallion was the perfect fit for the company and the Council. Toyota South Africa had used a stallion as its symbol for many years and Sandton was famous for its horse clubs and riding schools (two horses even appeared on the Sandton Crest).
Sandton Crest
I am sure that those involved in the installation as well as thousands of Sandton citizens expected the stallion to guard the entrance to the Civic Centre for decades if not centuries. Today, both are gone.
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