THE Mazisi Kunene Museum in Glenwood faces an uncertain future with the head of the literature gallery and activist, Mathabo Kunene, continuing the fight to keep her late husband and struggle stalwart’s legacy alive.

With some of the walls of the 8 Delville Avenue property now stripped of the poet’s works and art, Kunene said the family might have to consider the option of finding a new home for Mazisi Kunene’s manuscripts.

She said, “It all began 10 months ago when the eThekwini Municipality sent us an estimated utilities bill of nearly R400 000, R92 000 was interest. When we made enquiries with the city, we were told to pay or have our lights and water turned off, which is exactly what happened.”

Kunene said at the time, in 2023, negotiations with the municipality brought no joy and that the museum was forced to move some of the works to Pietermaritzburg to preserve them. “Durban is hot and humid, with no way of cooling the museum down we had no choice but to move Baba Kunene’s work.”

She said the family is considering requests from European and American museums which are willing to house the manuscripts.

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“I am disappointed with the eThekwini Municipality. All the city had to do was keep the lights on. They had agreed to assist with the museum, but so far they have failed us. This was our first home when we returned from 38 years’ exile. This was the place where Baba Kunene wrote his final poems,” said Kunene.

Mazisi, who is South Africa’s first UNESCO poet laureate, died at age 76 after a lengthy battle with cancer in 2006. The struggle stalwart was recognised by the city when they named a street after him.

“When we opened the museum we were looking for a place to display and exhibit the works of Baba Kunene so that people can see, that you can be educated and worldly but still maintain your heritage by writing in your own language. After 10 months of not having water and electricity, the certificates had shrunk. I was forced to sell some shares to pay the bill which had been reduced to around R250 000, and with the rest of the money and with some help, we installed solar power for the property. I was very hurt about what eThekwini did to us, they are taking advantage of people with this estimated billing and it shouldn’t happen,” said Kunene.

In 2019, the then chairperson of the eThekwini Community Services Committee, Councillor Zama Sokhabase, announced following a council meeting that the Mazisi Kunene Museum and its collection will be incorporated into the Municipality’s Local History Museum Department and form part of the existing Liberation Heritage Route to ensure that his legacy was safeguarded. However, municipal spokesperson Gugu Sisilana said there was no agreement in place between eThekwini Municipality and Mazisi Kunene Museum because of the outstanding debt owed to the municipality.

Also Read: Durban takes Mazisi Kunene Museum under its wing

She said, “Mrs Kunene was advised to pay any outstanding municipal bills because, in terms of the legislation, the municipality cannot appoint a service provider to refurbish the museum or enter into any lease agreement with a service provider which is owing the municipality. The municipality’s options to Mrs Kunene were open, the museum must first settle any outstanding municipal bills so that we can enter into a legally binding lease agreement as the municipality and in line with the legal framework within which the municipality operates.”

Sisilana added that if customers have queries about their bill, they are urged to visit the city’s Revenue Services Unit or their nearest Sizakala Centre and bring any supporting documents for clarity.

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