Following an oversight visit on Monday, the Standing Committee on Cultural Affairs and Sport resolved to foster greater engagement between the Western Cape Provincial Government and the Robben Island Museum (RIM) in order to preserve and protect South Africa’s vital heritage.

After years of mismanagement and financial irregularity, RIM is now under the authority of a new executive and council, headed up by Chairperson, Prof. Sathasivan “Saths” Cooper, and first ever female RIM CEO, Abigail Thulare. These new governing figures are have committed themselves to revitalising RIM and transforming it into a vital repository of South African national history, as well as building the financial stability and viability of the Museum as a tourist attraction.

RIM senior leadership briefed the Committee on a range of initiatives currently being undertaken by the museum. This includes youth development projects, the expansion of infrastructure and maintenance, and various research projects which aim to capture the experiences of former Robben Island political prisoners. RIM also briefed the Committee on its response to Covid-19, and its plans and current progress in recovering from the effects of the pandemic.

However, attention was also drawn to issues caused by national government agencies. The national Department of Public Works and Infrastructure – which is meant to maintain the infrastructure on the island – does not currently have a permanent contractor appointed to the site, resulting in a lack of maintenance, and instability in the museum’s operations.

It is also clear that RIM would be able to provide a return on investment with greater funding, which would allow it to more effectively maintain its infrastructure, maintain  a proper marketing budget, create more employment for former political prisoners and to increase its services to underprivileged communities and younger people.

Speaking after the visit, MPP Gillion Bosman said: “After a number of years of mismanagement, I trust that RIM now has the necessary leadership to fulfil its responsibility to safeguard the heritage of all South Africans. However, it is clear that more support to the museum is needed, and that this support will not come from national government. I find it bizarre that national Minister of Sport, Art and Culture Nathi Mthethwa would rather spend his budget on grandiose national monuments and the creation of unnecessary and dysfunctional national orchestras than funding a museum which clearly has the potential to become a driving force in the South African tourism economy.

While the provincial government legally cannot provide financial support to RIM, I am committed to working with the museum’s management to encourage closer partnerships with the Western Cape Government and City of Cape Town in order to make the museum’s work more accessible to all South Africans. Working together, we will transform RIM into a jewel of our national heritage.”

 

Issued by Gillion Bosman, MPP - DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Cultural Affairs and Sport