An open-air cultural museum that will show how former liberation struggle soldiers lived in military camps in exile will be built in East London.
The project is the brainchild of anti-apartheid military veterans, including those from UmKhonto WeSiZwe (MK) and the Azanian People’s Liberation Army (Apla).
Military camps will be recreated at the museum, and artefacts including old and unused military gear, and weapons, will be housed there, along with pamphlets, books, old newspaper clippings, pictures and other objects of historical and cultural significance.
Provincial department of arts and culture spokesman Andile Nduna, whose department will champion the project on behalf of the Eastern Cape government, said the museum would be developed on erf 1010 in Amalinda Nature Reserve in East London.
“BCM was approached to provide land identified within Amalinda Nature Reserve,” Nduna said. “After consultations with all stakeholders, consensus was reached a museum could be developed on site, using available infrastructure – old buildings that are currently out of use but are structurally sound.”
BCM mayor Alfred Mtsi confirmed the sale of the land while presenting his state-of-the-metro address last month.
Metro spokesman Keith Ngesi said the sale of the Amalinda property was approved last December.
Thousands of men and women went into exile during the apartheid era and joined military organisations such as MK or Apla. These soldiers became known as non-statutory forces (NSF) when they were integrated into the newly formed South African National Defence Force in 1994.
It was reported in March 2012 the department of defence made pension payouts to 11106 NSF soldiers who had retired from the army.
Nduna said the former soldiers approached BCM for support to build the museum, which would replicate the life they lived in exile.
“The centre would thus be a place to deepen and strengthen democracy while at the same time serving as a platform to promote national identity, reconciliation, unity and social cohesion,” said Nduna.
He said the department was working with the department of military veterans.
Struggle museum to be built
The project is the brainchild of anti-apartheid military veterans, including those from UmKhonto WeSiZwe (MK) and the Azanian People’s Liberation Army (Apla).
Military camps will be recreated at the museum, and artefacts including old and unused military gear, and weapons, will be housed there, along with pamphlets, books, old newspaper clippings, pictures and other objects of historical and cultural significance.
Provincial department of arts and culture spokesman Andile Nduna, whose department will champion the project on behalf of the Eastern Cape government, said the museum would be developed on erf 1010 in Amalinda Nature Reserve in East London.
“BCM was approached to provide land identified within Amalinda Nature Reserve,” Nduna said. “After consultations with all stakeholders, consensus was reached a museum could be developed on site, using available infrastructure – old buildings that are currently out of use but are structurally sound.”
BCM mayor Alfred Mtsi confirmed the sale of the land while presenting his state-of-the-metro address last month.
Metro spokesman Keith Ngesi said the sale of the Amalinda property was approved last December.
Thousands of men and women went into exile during the apartheid era and joined military organisations such as MK or Apla. These soldiers became known as non-statutory forces (NSF) when they were integrated into the newly formed South African National Defence Force in 1994.
It was reported in March 2012 the department of defence made pension payouts to 11106 NSF soldiers who had retired from the army.
Nduna said the former soldiers approached BCM for support to build the museum, which would replicate the life they lived in exile.
“The centre would thus be a place to deepen and strengthen democracy while at the same time serving as a platform to promote national identity, reconciliation, unity and social cohesion,” said Nduna.
He said the department was working with the department of military veterans.
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