News

The tragedy of a place called Sanctuary

BOTSHABELO: One of the most valuable and precious historical treasures in the country is slowly deteriorating into a painful process of destruction and decay.

July 4, 2019

Middelburg Observer 1 minute read

The museum was returned back to land claimants and now the museum is no more, the herds of wildlife that used to roam the plains have been sold, no maintenance work is being done, and now uncontrolled squatting is the order of the day.

Also read: Botshabelo’s last song

A video screened by the SABC in 1989 displays what a terrible tragedy the deterioration of Botshabelo has come to since then.

Julie van Rensburg, a previous employee of the Middelburg Observer, captured the story of Botshabelo when it was broadcast during that year, and the video is now in the care of the Middelburg Observer’s editor.

The video shows that a golden opportunity, to introduce the precious Ndebele culture to the world, has been lost.

Thousands of tourists, particularly from France, Germany and the Netherlands, used to visit the site on a daily basis when it was still a showpiece.

Also read: Shacks pop up at Botshabelo, Municipal Manager vows to look into it

The once beautiful Ndebele homes seen in the video are no longer occupied, and Esther Mahlangu, who became famous for her artwork while residing there, has left the area long ago.
Unless drastic intervention is taken to save the area, nothing will be left of this precious heritage…. which will be a tragedy…

• Botshabelo means “sanctuary”.