A Free State businessman is demanding a whopping R15-million for a Bloemfontein house which the ANC wants to turn into a symbol as part of its centenary celebration next year.
The iconic Wesleyan Church building in Waaihoek was the venue for the ANC’s founding conference in 1912. The Mail & Guardian understands that the ANC wants the Free State government to buy it.
According to senior ANC leaders, Kevin Jacobs initially wanted R100-million for the house in spite of the fact that it now serves as a panel-beater’s shop and is dilapidated. Wisani Ngobeni, the Free State government spokesperson, said this week that independent property evaluators had valued the building at R3,4-million. But Jacobs said this week he was not prepared to accept anything less than R15-million.
The dispute over the sale price of the landmark building could derail the ANC’s preparations for the celebration of its 100th anniversary, scheduled to take place on January 8 next year. As part of the centenary celebrations, which are expected to draw hundreds of international guests, the Free State government has set aside R100-million to uplift the province’s liberation sites and for infrastructure development.
Free State premier Ace Magashule announced in his state of the province address last week that the provincial government had submitted an application to declare the Wesleyan Church and Maphikela House in Bloemfontein, once owned by one of the ANC’s founding leaders, Thomas Mtobi Maphikela, national heritage sites.
Vincent Khetha, the provincial director of sports, arts, culture and recreation, who is responsible for heritage, museum and language services, said the plan was to turn the Wesleyan building and surrounding buildings into a cultural precinct, which would include, among other things, a museum and an auditorium.
Economic growth
The provincial government believes the project will boost economic growth and create employment opportunities for many in the province. Jacobs this week insisted he would not let go of the church building unless he received his full asking price.
“I will walk out of the building only once the ANC is prepared to pay. “I told premier Magashule how much I want for the building and I’m waiting for them to come back to me,” he said. Jacobs denied claims that he initially demanded R100-million, saying that he had asked for R30-million. “I could have gone higher than this,” he said. “The property represents everything that the ANC is today.
“It’s going to become one of the biggest tourism attractions in the country. A lot of people are going to benefit from it. It’s going to be profitable for everyone in the region. “Look at how much money Robben Island is generating today because of its historical significance. How do you put a R6-million price tag on something like this?
Jacobs said that he could have sold the property to anyone, but had chosen to sell it to the ANC. “Before I am a businessman, I am a comrade. If the price is fair, I will walk out,” he said. “There are so many billionaires in the ANC [who can afford R15-million]. I won’t be taken for a ride,” he said.
Jacobs claims to have spent a fortune on the building but, according to Ngobeni, the businessman bought it on auction for R400 000 in 2004. Ngobeni said the provincial government would negotiate to buy the building from Jacobs only once it was declared a heritage site. “Once the property is declared, we will engage the owner and there will be compensation.”
Ngobeni said the R100-million budget for the legacy project would include the restoration of the Wesleyan building and Maphikela house, the creation of a Winnie Mandela Museum, the refurbishment of Seisa Ramabodu stadium and other infrastructure development projects including the construction and maintenance of roads.
“We see this as a legacy project for the centenary,” said Ngobeni, who denied that the provincial government was using taxpayers’ money to fund ANC activities. “This is not about a narrow political issue. It is our mandate to accelerate the transformation of the country’s heritage landscape.
“Heads of states are going to come into the province. From a logistical point of view, we need to make sure we are ready for an event of that magnitude. ANC provincial secretary Sibongile Besani claimed he was not aware of the dispute surrounding the sale of the historic building. “This is the first time I hear of it. We have not made an offer to anybody.”