Cape Town - The Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport has dismissed recent social media claims that the Robben Island heritage site is in a state of disrepair as “false news being deliberately spread with malicious intent to cause reputational damage”.
The department was reacting to a post on a Facebook page belonging to “Citizens of Mzansi” which was widely shared.
Robben Island Museum’s (RIM) management also issued a statement in which it said the photographs in the post, which showed certain buildings with their roofs collapsed, were taken after storm damage in 2019 during site inspections with the contractor to assess the damage and plan for the repairs
RIM posted its own “before and after pictures” to make its point.
The post claimed the heritage site had been neglected as a result of cadre deployment, and blamed the ANC government. It also urged voters to reject the party at the 2024 election.
In response to the post, which has since disappeared from the “Citizens of Mzansi” Facebook page, the department posted a video broadcast on Twitter which showed tourists visiting Robben Island.
Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa’s spokesperson, who made the department’s response video and did the voice over, said the claims in the original viral post were “a narrative perpetuated by ill-intentioned individuals”.
“All these photos circulating on social media were in fact taken four years ago during site inspections with the contractor to assess the damage and plan for the repairs following a devastating storm,” he said.
Khumalo said Robben Island was fully operational and continued to create memorable experiences for scores of visitors every day.
The Ex-Political Prisoners Association (Eppa), which has in the past complained about the management of the Robben Island Museum and the department, said the claims that the heritage site had been neglected were motivated by politics.
Eppa secretary-general Mpho Masemola said: “We want to issue a strong warning that RIM is not a playground for counter revolutionary elements or political expediency as we move towards the national elections in 2024.”
After saying Robben Island was a beacon of the Struggle against apartheid and colonialism, Masemola urged South Africans to support RIM’s management led by chief executive Abigail Thulare who was appointed in 2021.
He said Thulare had delivered a turnaround strategy with a renewed integrated conservation management plan and that Eppa supported all her initiatives for the island.
Speaking for RIM, Thulare said: “We wish to categorically deny any allegations of infrastructure collapse, and assure the public that the island is fit and has been welcoming visitors to its shores, with the highest visitor numbers experienced during the December peak season, post Covid19.”
Thulare admitted there were areas of the site not for public access that were in dire need of maintenance and that these would be prioritised in line with the available budget.
“Our recovery plans are well under way. It is unfortunate that not all stakeholders are necessarily allies, and will seek to undermine the work that so many dedicated and committed employees are doing,” she said.
During an oversight visit towards the end of last year, Gillion Bosman (DA), chairperson of the provincial legislature’s standing committee on cultural affairs and sport, drew attention to issues affecting RIM caused by national government agencies.
He said at the time: “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.”
Bosman said the visit had shown that RIM would be able to provide a return on investment if it had more funding, which in turn would allow it to more effectively maintain its infrastructure.
Praising the new management, led by chairperson Sathasivan “Saths” Cooper, and Thulare, Bosman said: “The new governing figures 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.”
During the visit, the committee resolved to foster greater engagement between the Western Cape provincial government and the RIM to preserve and protect South Africa’s vital heritage.
mwangi.githahu@inl.co.za