Cultural Affairs and Sport

[a] The Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport honour’s and celebrate liberation struggle heroes and heroines through museum exhibitions, educational programmes, projects and the declaration of provincial heritage sites through consultation with its various stakeholders.

[b] The Museum Service has produced the following exhibitions, education programmes and documentaries about liberation heroes between 2009 and 2022:

• The ‘Aunties’ Poster Exhibition & Women’s Day Event, 2009: Featuring various heroines of the liberation struggle from the Cape Winelands like Miriam Vuyiswa Moleleki, Ayesha ‘Bibi’ Dawood, Elizabeth Abrahams and others.
• Exhibition honouring Nelson Mandela, Albert Luthuli, and Desmond Tutu for their roles in the liberation struggle round 2010.
• Nelson Mandela Traveling Exhibition: honouring his life, including his role in the liberation struggle round 2012.
• Clements Kadalie Documentary, 2018: Father of the Black Trade Union Movement.
• Richard Rive Documentary, 2018: Teacher, Writer, Academic and Human Rights Activist.
• Sailor Malan Documentary, 2018: Human Rights Activist and War Hero.
• Mzolisa Archibald Campbell ‘AC’ Jordan Documentary, 2018: Writer, Academic & Human Rights Activist.
• Zainunissa ‘Cissie’ Gool Documentary, 2018: A woman of action who walked the talk in taking up the liberation struggle and encouraged people of colour to stand up and claim what was rightfully theirs. She was the first woman of colour to earn a Master’s Degree from UCT and the first female of colour advocate called to the Cape Town Bar.
• Dulcie September Documentary, 2018: Teacher, Liberation Struggle Ambassador and Human Rights Activist.
• Dulcie September Traveling Exhibition & Education Programme [round 2017] honouring her role in the liberation struggle for which she was killed.
• Gugulethu 60 Documentary, 2017/18/19: Prominently featured the involvement of the youth in the liberation struggle as well as the Gugulethu Seven, and other local struggle veterans.
• The Life and Legacy of Imam Abdullah Haron Traveling Exhibition, Booklet & Education Programme in 2019. Honouring his life, religious leadership and his role in the liberation struggle and his death at the hands of the security police.
• Drakenstein Revisited Exhibition at Madiba House at the Drakenstein Prison, 2019: Photographic exhibition about Nelson Mandela’s time spent in prison here, his meetings with politicians and comrades and his release.
• Nelson Mandela Banner Exhibition, 2019: Features quotes by him in celebration of the centenary of his birth.
• DCAS Oral History Project, ongoing: As part of this project some liberation struggle veterans like Dennis Goldberg were interviewed. These interviews are available to learners and the public on DVDs at local libraries.

 [c][I,ii]   In addition, Heritage Western Cape has declared the following Provincial Heritage Sites associated with liberation heritage in recent years. The honour bestowed upon these sites is that they are declared as Provincial Heritage Sites, which is the highest form of provincial protection that can be given to a site under the National Heritage Resources Act 25 of 1999.

 

• The Rocklands Civic Centre [it was nominated by Heritage Western Cape for declaration by SAHRA as a National Heritage Site].
• “Freedom Square”, located at Portion Erf 100010, Corner Bluegum Street and Kiaat Road, Bonteheuwel, Cape Town.
• A portion of Thornton Road between Klipfontein and Repulse Roads, Athlone, Cape Town in memory of the Trojan Horse Massacre.
• “Gugulethu 7 Memorial” , situated on the corner of Steve Biko Drive [Remainder Road NY1] and Mananase Ndlebe Road [NY 121], Gugulethu, Cape Town.
• Erf 661, “the Langa Pass Office”, corner of King Langalibalele Drive and Lerotholi Avenue, Langa, Cape Town 

 

Furthermore, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport is the implementing provincial entity for the national Resistance and Liberation Heritage Route. The programme is funded by the national Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and implemented by its agency, the National Heritage Council.  Each province was requested to select three hub sites to form part of the Route.  The three sites in the Western Cape are as follows:

• • • Robben Island Prison Landscape
    • Tussen Die Riviere: Commemorating the early legacies of resistance by the indigenous people in South Africa
    • Mandela Route to Freedom on 11 February 1990: Entrance/Exit at Drakenstein Correctional Facility; Madiba House at Drakenstein Correctional Facility; City Hall and Grand Parade.

The Department conducted and finalized two feasibility studies for the Tussen die Riviere and the Madiba House in 2021. Further guidance from NHC is expected regarding the implementation of the interventions proposed in the two studies.  Discussions between the Department, Robben Island Museum and the National Heritage Council are ongoing to develop a proposal in respect of conservation and maintenance of heritage sites at Robben Island, which will then inform the intervention measures.