The Red Location community in Port Elizabeth's New Brighton is upset about the delay of the official opening of the R50-million museum.

They say they have yet to benefit from the museum in terms of tourist and job opportunities which were promised in 2003 before its construction.

Red Location is one of the most celebrated and oldest black townships in Port Elizabeth. The area has a rich history; it was a corrugated iron barracks used by the British soldiers during the South African War of 1899-1902.

Black people moved to the area after the out break of the bubonic plague in 1901.

It became an eyesore with dilapidated houses and became unhygienic because of neglect.

Most of the residents worked at the nearby railway station. The Red Location is home to boxing champions Nyambi Pemba, and Presley "Champ" Ntsonga.

ANC supporters lived in the area, which became a hiding place for "illegal blacks" from outside areas and politicians avoiding detention by the Special Branch police.

The red corrugated iron homes have since been replaced with government subsidised houses.

Some of the residents whose shacks are directly opposite the museum said the construction had brought little change in their lives and meant relocation to other areas.

A single mother of five, Nontsikelelo Mama, said local people did not even get jobs during the construction period.

"I do not know who worked there we, were not approached for the jobs."

A member of the Informal Settlement Committee, Vuyo Nyambayo, blamed the community structures for the failure of the museum programme.

He said none of the people was employed at the museum so far.

"We are seeing people from New Brighton, KwaMagxaki and other areas working in the museum. I want the mayor to know what is going on in the area. She must know that people are forced to move out without alternative accommodation."

Siyabonga Majaza, who lives close to the museum said: "We were promised financial spin-offs when this museum was built, but now it's been more than 10 months and nothing has happened."

He said they had been told by the municipality that the museum would bring tourists and job opportunities to the community. "We have been waiting for the opening, but we only get news about it and all the delays in newspapers. No one is telling us any thing."

Ward 15 councillor Jimmy Tutu denied the claims by the residents and said most residents got jobs. "People got jobs but the focus was on the geographical spread."

Red Location had major political significance and had an interesting architectural legacy of century-old corrugated iron houses, the reason it was chosen to house the cultural museum.

Tutu said residents had received tourism and arts training at the museum.

It was supposed to have been officially opened to coincide with Heritage Day on September 24 last year, but due to poor planning and administrative bungling, the event was postponed. Another opening was set for February 6 this year, but because of the controversy over the reburial of ANC stalwarts Govan Mbeki and Raymond Mhlaba at a mausoleum there, the idea was put on the back burner following the intervention of the national government and the ANC.

It was reported last year that a proposed development of a cultural precinct in New Brighton, which would encompass Emlotheni, Mendi Bottle Store and the Red Location Museum, creating a tourism district, was expected to create up to 1  000 permanent jobs.

This was revealed by Rory Riordan of Dojon Financial Services during a presentation to the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality recreation and culture committee on Monday.

Nelson Mandela Bay spokesman Kupido Baron said the municipality was still in the budgeting process for the new financial year. "We still have to allocate funds for the opening in this financial year and we are looking for a date in September," said Baron.

On the outstanding issue of the reburial of Mhlaba and Mbeki's remains in the mausoleum, Baron said: "The issue is still under review, but it won't delay the opening of the museum any further. September is the definite month. We are just looking for a date now," he said.

Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism spokesman Phumeza Mgxashe said: "Although there are quite a number of tourist visits in the Red Location area, the opening of the museum to the public will broaden the attraction to the area.

"Tour operators include the Red Location area when they show tourists around, but I think more people could benefit if the museum was open," she said. - Additional reporting by ECN

Eastern Province herald
 
Publisher: I-Net Bridge
Source: I-Net Bridge