Heritage sites lie in trashy tatters
Maintenance nightmare as struggle memorials hit
RAMPANT vandals are trashing Nelson Mandela Bay’s most prized and iconic heritage sites while municipal officials admit they are failing to protect the city’s history.
They have described maintenance of the sites as an “administrative nightmare”.
In a disturbing scenario reminiscent of apartheid inequalities, it has also emerged a complete absence of maintenance, coupled with looting and wrecking, is affecting many historical struggle memorials, while colonial or “white” sites are in pristine condition.
In a damning report to the sports, recreation, arts and culture portfolio committee yesterday, executive director Noxolo Nqwazi said the municipality was battling to protect and preserve heritage sites in the metro.
It also emerged at the meeting severe damage to the Red Location Museum caused by thieves and vandals had left it in such a wrecked state it is still unclear when the showpiece will reopen after being closed for almost a year due to community protests.
There is water damage to carpets and furniture while air-conditioner units, pipes, cables, light fittings, fencing and drains are just some of the items that have been stolen since the museum closed its doors 10 months ago when residents carried out protests on the premises over faulty RDP housing.
Nqwazi warned other sites were also being vandalised and a plan had to be formulated to protect them.
An investigation by Weekend Post has revealed a litany of trashed sites along with scenes of animals grazing on the final resting places of some of the Bay’s most high profile and influential politicians.
The Mendi and Emlotheni memorials in New Brighton have been turned into dumping areas or are being used by residents to relieve themselves, while the hugely significant Langa Memorial in Uitenhage is also lying in ruins.
The majority of township monuments in which the government has invested thousands of rands are without rooftops, reeks, have no doors, windows, electric cables or globes, and have seats ripped apart.
Herds of cows roam freely and graze in the Veeplaas Cemetery where a number of struggle heroes such as Govan Mbeki and Raymond Mhlaba are laid to rest.
Although the stalwart politicians’ grave sites are secured with steel fencing and locked gates, a large section of the cemetery’s concrete fence has been broken, making it easy for animals and people to gain entry.
When the investigation team visited the cemetery this week, more than 15 cattle were grazing in the unkempt graveyard just metres away from Mhlaba and Mbeki’s grave sites.
Advocate and former political activist Vusi Pikoli said it was unacceptable that places of historical significance had been allowed to deteriorate to such a degree. On Saturday, I was in New Brighton together with my sister but when we passed by the Emlotheni Memorial, I noticed some boys playing soccer on the site. I was tempted to go and stop them. These sites are full of memories of our hero and heroine but obviously no one cares. Our own people do not appreciate them,” Pikoli said.
“We must educate our children on how sacred these monuments are.
“The council is run by people who were once oppressed themselves, but how easily they forget,” Pikoli said.
Activist and civic leader Reverend Xolani Tengo said he was perturbed by the negligence affecting heritage sites in the metro and called on the governing party to form a heritage committee to look after the rich history of the metro.
“The memorial sites are all dirty, not maintained and the dignity of our fallen heroes is not cared for. We need to preserve our legacy for the future of our children,” Tengo said.
By stark contrast, the imposing marble statue of Queen Victoria stands firm in front of Port Elizabeth’s main library while the Pearson Conservatory in St George’s Park has in recent years been restored to its original form.
Both Castle Hill in Central and the Drostdy Museum in Uitenhage also remain well-maintained, pristine and popular historical attractions.
Stressing the importance of the sites, Port
Elizabeth historian Margaret Harradine said the community should stand together to prevent vandalism.
Afrika Maxolo, district executive of the Communist Party who is also a former activist, said he was shocked when he discovered how the Chinese had preserved their heritage dating back from 1400.
“We have done nothing. When we talk of heritage we are not only talking about the ANC. There were men and women who contributed in the community, but this information has never been recorded.”
Professor Albrecht Herholdt, director of The Matrix Urban Designers and Architects, believes the ruin experienced in township historical sites will change one day.
“It will take time and we are going to see some changes there one day,” Herholdt said.
According to Nqwazi’s report, the department of sports, recreation, arts and culture had initially started a programme of training and employing the families of victims and victims of political violence to provide information to visitors about heritage sites.
“The attempts to protect and to preserve the heritage sites have not yielded the desired results.
“The management of the maintenance of heritage sites has created an administrative nightmare.
“The department of sports, recreation, arts and culture needs to reclaim their mandate of identifying, preserving and management of heritage sites.
“The current state of affairs is the heritage sites are being vandalised and the department is obliged to create a workable plan that will protect the historical heritage of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality,” Nqwazi wrote.