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Doors to R280m heritage monument remain shut since 2018
The R280-million National Women’s Living Heritage Monument remains inaccessible to the public though it was completed in 2018.
The monument tells the story of women’s contribution to the liberation struggle and features statues of the four heroic stalwarts, Lillian Ngoyi, Sophie De Bruyn, Helen Joseph and Rahima Moosa, who led the 1956 march of 20 000 women to the Union Buildings.
It is understood that the facility remains shut due to not having a certificate of occupancy.
The DA’s Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation (SACR) officials and partners recently conducted an oversight into the progress of the monument in the Pretoria CBD.
The DA says the fact that the monument remains closed is due to shoddy workmanship carried out by the provincial SACR.
The defects include non-compliant fire safety systems, roof leaks, and poor plumbing, among others.
The toilets and roof were reportedly leaking, the walls cracked and the courtyard was unkept and full of weeds.
The monument has also been subjected to numerous acts of vandalism.
It was opened on August 9, 2016, by then-President, Jacob Zuma, though construction was not completed until 2018.
Since then, the DA has staged several oversight visits to the monument to check on the progress and each time has been disappointed.
Led by DA Shadow MEC for sports, arts and culture, Kingsol Chabalala, the recent oversight also served as a three-part initiative that sought to challenge the recent claim made by Education and Sports MEC, Matome Chiloane, alleging that his department has spent R9.2 million on the maintenance of three heritage sites during the 2023/24 financial year.
The other sites include the Kagiso Memorial and the Boipatong Memorial.
“There are a lot of safety challenges around this building, even the City of Tshwane cannot grant them a certificate of occupancy. There are issues regarding fire hazards, lifts and water leaks, it’s quite concerning. I think we can find solace in the fact that when arrived here we found contractors working on this monument, we hope that this time the department will get it right, but it’s sad that millions of rands have been wasted,” said Chabalala.
According to the metro, an occupancy certificate can only be issued once a client complies with the National Building Regulation and Standard Act 103 of 1977.
“When the construction was completed, the SACR had spent millions on this monument and every time we come to conduct oversight it is still not operating. The residents and the youth of Tshwane suffer due to this. We will continue our work because we want to ensure that this monument opens and is available to the public. You can’t use this much money and it still isn’t opened,” said Chabalala.
He added that, despite the so-called investment, these heritage sites remained in a poor condition and that further delays to opening the monument only harm surrounding the communities.
DA Gauteng Spokesperson for SACR, Leanne De Jager, DA Tshwane Interim Constituency Head, Councillor Shaun Wilkinson and metro PR Councillor, Katlego Makgaleng, were part of the oversight team.
“Millions of rands have been wasted yet this monument is still not operational despite its potential to attract tourists and create employment opportunities for the residents of Tshwane and Gauteng. The DA has consistently exposed the Department of SACR for failing to complete infrastructure projects and for exceeding budgets. The longer the Women’s Living Monument remains non-operational and inaccessible, the higher the risk of being vandalised,” said De Jager.
She said they intend to continue to hold Chiloane and the SACR to account and demand prioritisation of the monument certification until it’s granted.
“We cannot allow such a significant monument, which holds valuable heritage, to remain unused while taxpayers’ money is being spent annually to keep it operational and serving the people of our province,” De Jager said.
Manager of the Arcadia City Improvement District, Catherine Keyworth, gave her perspective on the matter, saying, “Irrespective of the political parties involved and various government departments, it is essential that meaningful recognition is given to the role of women in society. It is particularly important given the shocking GBV statistics and continued misogyny directed towards women. If we cannot make a monument safe how can we secure the rights of the ordinary citizen? Tangible change needs to happen.”
