The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes with great concern the terrible state of disrepair of most Gauteng heritage sites as the country celebrates National Heritage Day tomorrow.
“Most of the Gauteng sites are in a state of disrepair yet there is money allocated annually for the maintenance of these sites,” said DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation Lebo More.
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More noted eight sites that are “a disgrace and an insult to our heritage.”
1. Solomon Mahlangu Square
2. Mamelodi Rondavels
3. Madiba Alexandra House
4. Magaliesberg’s picturesque landscape
5. Rotunda building in Braamfontein
6. Cradle of Humankind
7. Boipatong Monument and Youth Centre
8. Women’s Living Museum in Pretoria
“While the country continues to commemorate Cultural Month, there is nothing to celebrate in Gauteng as several facilities worthy of preservation remain a shadow of their former staff members,” said More.
The DA has tabled questions to Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation MEC Mbali Hlophe regarding the issue of heritage.
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According to More, Hlophe has to ascertain how the heritage site budget allocation is being spent and to determine when last the department conducted an audit on the state of the sites in Gauteng.
“We request the MEC to conduct this audit as a matter of urgency,” said More.
