Qunu | Tuesday
THE 12-year anniversary of former president Nelson Mandela’s release from prison coincided on Monday with the second birthday of the Eastern Cape museum named after him. Arts, Science, Culture and Technology Minister Ben Ngubane used the opportunity to announce a new development worth R20-million for the Nelson Mandela Museum in Umtata.
”We all look forward to the completion of this construction where groups will participate in programmes rooted in the legacy of Nelson Mandela, his life and times, the values that he represents and the values that shaped him and the people of his time.”
Mandela was released from the Victor Verster Prison in Cape Town after spending the last of his 27 years imprisonment there as a political prisoner.
Ngubane said the Qunu Youth and Heritage Centre would be built within 21 months at sites in Qunu Mandela’s home town.
”Construction is on the verge of starting to complement the very significant outdoor cultural sites… the ruins of the church school where the young Rolihlahla became Nelson… and isidado (swimming place) where Mandela played and learned.”
The centre would also offer locals the opportunity to showcase their arts and crafts.
The Nelson Mandela Museum was planned to operate at three sites Qunu, Bhunga, Mvezo.
The latter two had also been earmarked for expansion.
Ngubane said the government’s concept of museums was that they be ”spaces of living memory full of activities and learning” rather than storage houses.
”They should be informed by the needs, tastes and knowledge systems of the communities they serve,” he said. – Sapa