Note to Editors: Please find the attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Leanne De Jager MPL.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng is taking decisive action over the future of the Heidelberg Heritage Museum. In response to serious management discrepancies, the DA will be tabling questions to the Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Jacob Mamabolo, demanding immediate clarity on who is responsible for the museum’s oversight. This step comes amid growing concerns that mismanagement—marked by a lack of a formal contract with the Lesedi Local Municipality, irregular tender processes, and unauthorised sub-letting practices—could lead to the premature closure of this vital national monument.
The future of the Heidelberg Heritage Museum, which has already cost taxpayers over R6.8 million in renovations, is uncertain due to an ongoing conflict between the museum management and the Lesedi Local Municipality. Officially opened in 1995, the museum is a national monument that serves as a repository of local history, preserving artefacts and stories that reflect the diverse cultures of South Africa. As such, any potential closure of the museum is deeply concerning.
We learned of the conflict between the management and the local municipality during a recent oversight inspection at the museum after being notified of the impending closure of this renowned heritage site that has hosted historical figures like Winston Churchill and Mahatma Gandhi.
See photos, here, here, here, and here.
During the oversight inspection, the DA Gauteng discovered the following:
- The current museum management does not have a signed contract with the Lesedi Local Municipality.
- Proper tender processes were not followed, and the current management was self-appointed, based on a tacit verbal agreement between them and a former Mayor.
- Bouwe Wiersma, the current manager, has been investing in the museum, conducting repairs, and sub-letting the space to businesses such as a brewery and a German restaurant without the necessary authority.
- Electricity has been cut due to non-payment.
The DA Gauteng finds this situation unacceptable. The museum should be a functioning facility due to its significant economic potential. Specifically, it can serve as a catalyst for boosting tourism in Heidelberg, which could ultimately lead to job creation for the local community.
Furthermore, the DA supports public and private sector partnerships in running this museum, however, proper procedures must be followed when leasing this facility. This will ensure the smooth running of the museum and that utilities are paid to avoid any interruption of services rendered by this facility.
The closure of this museum resulting from a dispute between the management and the municipality, is not only ridiculous but also a disservice to those who believed in its significance like the former president Nelson Mandela, who officially opened the museum at the dawn of our democracy.
The DA Gauteng will leverage every available resource within the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) and beyond to safeguard this vital monument of our province and ensure that the significant stories it holds are conveyed from one generation to the next.