The historic Staatsmuseum or State Museum in Pretoria, once a proud symbol of Southern Africa’s scientific and cultural heritage, has been left in ruin for decades, and its collection has vanished, depriving South Africans of their shared history. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has tabled questions to the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation (SACR) seeking clarification on which authority is responsible for the neglected national monument and the whereabouts of its valuable collections. We will also engage the National Departments of Arts and Culture, Public Works and Infrastructure regarding the state of the building.
A recent oversight inspection by the DA at the State Museum revealed a building in a shocking state of disrepair, with visible deterioration indicating years of neglect and abandonment. The windows are broken, sections of the ceiling have collapsed, and the walls are cracked with paint peeling off. Inside, the building resembles a jungle with overgrown grass.
See photos here, here, here, here, and here.
The Straatmuseum, located on Boom Street, was established in 1892 to collect and display South Africa’s natural specimens, cultural artefacts, art and antiquities. For example, it housed a collection of items from the Anglo‑Boer War and the Voortrekker culture.
Instead of remaining a living repository of this country’s rich and complex history, accessible to learners, researchers, families, and visitors from around the world, the museum has instead been abandoned since its closure in 1991. It is unclear whether a proper inventory of the collection was ever maintained, and where these artefacts were removed to after the museum closed.
The DA demands answers on whether the structural assessment has been conducted on the building, what budget has been allocated for its maintenance or restoration, and what concrete plans, if any, exist to restore this National Monument.
A DA-led Gauteng provincial government would not have allowed this national treasure to deteriorate. Instead, it would have ensured that it remained preserved and alive, because our history deserves nothing less. This is doable!