It has been about seven years since the then mayor of Ekurhuleni, Mzwandile Masina, announced that the former Dawn Park home of late anti-apartheid icon Chris Hani would be turned into the Chris Hani House Museum and a heritage site.
However, the facility envisioned to help commemorate the struggle stalwart’s life has turned into what appears to be a white elephant.
Information gathered suggests that although work to transform the facility began years ago, the project has been trapped in limbo of late while the metro is trying to decide what to do next.
Masina officially received the keys to the Chris Hani House Museum in November 2016, stating then the house would undergo several changes in honour of Hani’s life.
Boksburg Advertiser previously reported the metro pegged the budget allocated for repairs and maintenance to the property to be turned into a museum at about R300 000.
The metro had previously set several time frames for completing and officially opening the facility to the public to enjoy, but none of these ever materialised.
Metro spokesperson Zweli Dlamini confirmed that the museum is still not open to the public.
He did not elaborate on the reasons for it remaining closed or when the metro is planning to open it.
Poor quality
Speaking at the 30th-anniversary commemoration of Hani’s death on April 10, Chris Hani’s widow, Limpho, did not mince her words when she criticised the city’s officials for depicting the life story of her late husband in a way she deemed below par.
Limpho said that although the family welcomed the establishment of the museum, they are not happy with the quality of the work done to tell Hani’s story.
She pleaded with the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Zizi Kodwa, to intervene and ensure that her late husband’s story is accurately told.
“This can only be achieved by appointing a professional to do the job instead of an official sitting somewhere in the municipal offices. I don’t think it correct to present my husband the way he is presented in that museum,” the widow said.
All Boksburg Advertiser’s efforts to secure a tour of the facility proved unsuccessfully, but it’s understood all there is inside are photos and art exhibits hanging on the walls, some drawings on the floor and a demarcation of the spot Hani was found dead after the shooting on April 10, 1993.
Preserving history
The museum reportedly forms part of the about R50-million multi-phased project, which included the construction of a monument and a liberation trail for Chris Hani at the Thomas Nkobi Cemetery.
Dlamini explained that the house‚ which was previously privately owned had been purchased by the city as part of its programme to preserve history and heritage. The vision was to turn it into a museum where people can learn more about the life and times of Hani, who was murdered in the property’s driveway in 1993.
“As we were buying the house‚ we asked ourselves why are we buying the house? We then immediately directed our officials to apply to the South African Heritage Resource Agency to declare this house‚ a heritage site.”
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