David Bopape’s house is falling apart
“We are calling on residents and friends of David Bopape to come forward to help us clean the house as part of the Brakpan centenary celebration in 2019.”
Tsakane – The home of the late ANC struggle hero David Wilcox Hlahane Bopape has through the years turned into a shadow of the beautiful 12-roomed house it used to be.
One of the three garages has been turned into a tuck shop owned by foreign nationals.
The once-beautiful white exterior of the house is now worn out, with paint peeling off and doors broken.
Bopape moved to Tsakane in Brakpan and started teaching at Berlin School, where he became a member of the Transvaal African Teachers’ Association.
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He played an instrumental role in fighting the pass laws, advocating for higher pay for teachers and organising the Alexandra bus boycott against high bus fees.
He also helped form the African National Congress Youth League in 1944 alongside Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and others.
Bopape died on September 2, 2004, aged 84.
The founders of the Brakpan Museum are calling for the house to be turned into a museum to help restore his legacy.
“It is heartbreaking to see the home of this struggle hero turned into a white-elephant building.
“We feel his legacy is slowly dying.
“However, by turning his house into a museum, residents and people from other countries will be able to gather and read more about him and the history of Old Brakpan.
“We are calling on residents and friends of David Bopape to come forward to help us clean the house as part of the Brakpan centenary celebration in 2019.
“The celebration will see some of the surviving residents contributing to the history booklet which will be compiled,” explains Vikinduku Mkhonza of the Brakpan Museum.
Concerned resident Maria Mahlangu says she supports the idea of turning the house into a museum.
“Bopape was a good man who always opened his home to those in need and fought for the freedom we enjoy today.
“It is painful to see his house slowly falling apart.
“We fear the house will one day become a home for criminals like other houses did.
“It is better to turn it into a museum,” she says.
