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Cape Town – During a Heritage Day debate in parliament, the DA came out strongly against the mismanagement of Robben Island Museum, calling it an insult to Madiba’s memory.
“I’m sure that we would all agree that this is the one single place in our history that represents South Africa and the world’s memory of Madiba,” said DA Shadow Minister of Tourism.
“However Robben Island Museum mismanagement is an insult to this memory,” he continued.
Vos cited the Robben Island Museum’s annual report, stating that tour sales had decreased by R1 382 392 in the 2012/2013 financial year. A 5% decline in visitors to the island had also been reported from December 2012 to December 2013.
“Madiba, South Africa and the world deserves better,” he
concluded.
Also see: 'Dire' state of Robben Island under the spotlight
Last month Robben Island Museum called on the private sector to assist in a comprehensive management overhaul, after chief executive, Sibongiseni Mkhize admitted that they had been battling poor quality service and mismanagement for a number of years.
He invited companies and organisations to submit proposals to aid in the restructuring and reorganising process.
Western Cape Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Nomafrench Mbombo, responded to Mkhize’s call for proposals in a media statement on Tuesday, saying that she agreed that urgent intervention was needed to improve the “dire state of Robben Island,” but believed the Western Cape Government could assist in the process.
Commenting on the ‘Dire’ state of Robben Island, Traveller24 readers shared a few interesting thoughts and opinions. Take a look:
Athena - Ask the people who maintain The Voortrekker Museum to do it.
They are doing a fantastic job of maintaining that.I took my son there last
year and it was immaculate.
Ria Cook - We visited the island about ten years ago. It was in total disarray then, I can only imagine what it's like now. Complete waste of money.
Sharon Kendon - I visited Robben Island during
the apartheid years. It was very clean, the gardens and the houses all were
well maintained. I realise that it was probably the poor prisoners who had to
slave to maintain the place . Needless to say I was shocked to see the state of
the place now. Surely they can employ some maintenance staff. Where are all the
millions going from ticket sales or is this also being stolen? It is an
embarrassment and an insult to the memory of Nelson Mandela.
Have you been to Robben Island recently? What did you think of the experience? What would you suggest to improve it?
