Brandfort 'exile' house to become a museum
PLANS by the Free State provincial government to convert Winnie Madikizela-Mandela's old house in Majwemasweu in Brandfort into a museum are on track ahead of the ANC's centenary celebrations next year.
To pave way for the construction of the museum acting premier Sisi Ntombela yesterday handed over a new fully furnished three-bedroom house to Elizabeth Plaatjie, who has been living in Madikizela-Mandela's former house.
The provincial government wants to start constructing the museum in honour of the former ANC Women's league president, who lived in the house while she was exiled by the apartheid regime.
Plaatjie, 79, a mother of six, was ecstatic about her new home.
She said she had been waiting for the house for many years after promises from various people.
"No one wanted to live in the house for a long time because of its sentimental value.
"Just after we left youths in the area broke into the house constantly, claiming the house belonged to 'Mother of the Nation'," she said.
Plaatjie's new house was made possible with the help of Free State Premier Ace Magashule
The provincial government agreed that Madikizela Mandela would be honored as part of the build-up to the party's centenary celebrations next year, by turning the house that she lived in for many years, into a museum.
Madikizela-Mandela lived in the house with her youngest daughter, Zindzi, with no running water or electricity.
The former wife of Nelson Mandela was exiled in Majwemasweu, Brandfort, on July 1977 by the apartheid government.
The provincial government has since set aside R3million for the project that is expected to be completed early next year.
Madikizela-Mandela's former house is expected to draw tourists to the sleepy town of Brandfort as they will want to see where the ANC veteran was exiled to during the apartheid era.
The department of sport, arts and culture is facilitating the establishment of museum.
Spokesperson Tankiso Zola said plans were on track and proceeding accordingly.
"Our aim is to declare the house a national and provincial heritage house," said Zola
He said the museum would be launched in August followed by construction work that is expected to be completed early next year.
According to Zola the museum should have been completed this year but Plaatjie's new house was not yet ready for occupation.
He said "poor workmanship" of the house into which the occupants should have moved had contributed to the delay.
Zola said the department did not intend to change much about the house because of the historical nature.
He said stressed that the plan was on track and the museum would start operating once it was ready.
Winnie Mandela to be honoured
Brandfort 'exile' house to become a museum
PLANS by the Free State provincial government to convert Winnie Madikizela-Mandela's old house in Majwemasweu in Brandfort into a museum are on track ahead of the ANC's centenary celebrations next year.
To pave way for the construction of the museum acting premier Sisi Ntombela yesterday handed over a new fully furnished three-bedroom house to Elizabeth Plaatjie, who has been living in Madikizela-Mandela's former house.
The provincial government wants to start constructing the museum in honour of the former ANC Women's league president, who lived in the house while she was exiled by the apartheid regime.
Plaatjie, 79, a mother of six, was ecstatic about her new home.
She said she had been waiting for the house for many years after promises from various people.
"No one wanted to live in the house for a long time because of its sentimental value.
"Just after we left youths in the area broke into the house constantly, claiming the house belonged to 'Mother of the Nation'," she said.
Plaatjie's new house was made possible with the help of Free State Premier Ace Magashule
The provincial government agreed that Madikizela Mandela would be honored as part of the build-up to the party's centenary celebrations next year, by turning the house that she lived in for many years, into a museum.
Madikizela-Mandela lived in the house with her youngest daughter, Zindzi, with no running water or electricity.
The former wife of Nelson Mandela was exiled in Majwemasweu, Brandfort, on July 1977 by the apartheid government.
The provincial government has since set aside R3million for the project that is expected to be completed early next year.
Madikizela-Mandela's former house is expected to draw tourists to the sleepy town of Brandfort as they will want to see where the ANC veteran was exiled to during the apartheid era.
The department of sport, arts and culture is facilitating the establishment of museum.
Spokesperson Tankiso Zola said plans were on track and proceeding accordingly.
"Our aim is to declare the house a national and provincial heritage house," said Zola
He said the museum would be launched in August followed by construction work that is expected to be completed early next year.
According to Zola the museum should have been completed this year but Plaatjie's new house was not yet ready for occupation.
He said "poor workmanship" of the house into which the occupants should have moved had contributed to the delay.
Zola said the department did not intend to change much about the house because of the historical nature.
He said stressed that the plan was on track and the museum would start operating once it was ready.
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