Mthatha – The Nelson Mandela Museum in the Eastern Cape continues to be a catalyst for development in the province, something the former President had insisted on when he opened the facility more than 10 years ago.
Situated on a hill top near Mbashe River in his home town of Qunu, the iconic building honors Madiba’s wish that a museum be built at his birth place to safeguard and preserve the gifts that he received from all over the world. He wanted the gifts to be accessible to the people of South Africa and international visitors.
“Through the museum, we promote the values of ubuntu and the rich history of our country for the benefit of many generations to come,” said the museum’s Marketing Manager, Nokuzola Tetani when Sanews recently visited the area.
Through its collections and captivating multi-media exhibitions, including a comic display of Mandela’s life-long struggle for freedom, the museum allows visitors to follow the foot prints of Nelson Mandela and what made him who he was.
A combination of stone and wood with breath-taking architectural feel gives the museum its iconic image. It stood to a big test recently as it survived a big tornado that destroyed several houses and schools in the area.
According to Tetani, since its inception, the museum has been central to the socio-economic development of the area, where most people still relied on the old methods of living.
“The majority of people in this area are poor and unemployed and what the museum has done and continues to do is to bring business closer to here and we always ensure that only locals are employed where possible.”
Since 2008, the museum has been operating on two sites, in Qunu and the Bhunga Building in Mthatha, the former headquarters of the Transkei homeland.
Through its youth and heritage centre, it allows young people to be skilled in arts, tourism and farming. Village tours allow visitors to experience the authentic landscape of Madiba’s birth place, thus boosting local tourism.
Monde Mgodlana, one of the beneficiaries of the programme said the museum had changed his life. “I first started here as a caretaker and moved on to become a tour guide and I’m grateful for all the opportunities,” he said.
Visitors are also taken to the small hut that Mandela slept in during his teenage years in Mqekezweni and shown the remains of his mother’s hut in Qunu. – SAnews.gov.za
