Rehana Rossouw
President Nelson Mandela’s dream of a museum near his birthplace – Qunu in the Eastern Cape – has been given the green light, and should open to the public early next year.
The museum is not intended as a shrine or a living monument to the president – its primary purpose will be to display gifts he has received over the past few years.
Most of the gifts have been crated and stored at his house in Houghton, Johannesburg, but by the end of this year they will find a new home at a government museum.
Mandela insists on receiving every offering on behalf of the people of South Africa. He regards none of them as his personal property. Yet many are chosen to appeal to him personally.
A boxing glove signed by Mohammed Ali and George Foreman was no doubt intended for a man who enjoys the sport, rather than a gift to all South Africans. But it could quite likely end up displayed at Qunu for all to see.
Mandela has charged Deputy Environment Affairs and Tourism Minister Bantu Holomisa with the task of paving the way for the construction of the museum.
Holomisa held a meeting in Qunu last month to raise the plan with the community and ask for assistance in choosing a site. More than 500 people attended, including all the headmen of villages in the area, Eastern Cape government officials, the Qunu Reconstruction and Development Programme committee, non- governmental organisations, and representatives of the University of Transkei and local schools.
“I informed them that the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology and the Department of Public Works have been assigned by your office to the build the museum in Qunu,” Holomisa reported to Mandela.
“The building of the museum would no doubt lead to spin-offs such as tourism and small industries. The meeting felt that the tourism potential and environment must be considered by the local people of Qunu and that any site chosen for the museum must cater for these needs.
“The meeting accepted the proposal to build the museum in Qunu. The site is being looked at by a committee composed of Qunu residents.” The most likely spot is on the crest of a hill overlooking Mandela’s birthplace.
Mandela donated R150 000 to the community which has yet to do decide how to spend it. It will most likely be used for a satellite project near the museum which will cater for tourists visiting the installation.
Public Works representative Wiseman Khuzwayo said the follow-up meeting between his department and the Qunu committee had not yet been organised. Officials were still formulating a proposal to put to them.