A bigger and better revamped Nelson Mandela Museum in Mthatha will reopen by the end of March.
The museum council’s deputy chairman Vuyani Jarana said the museum in the Bhunga building had not just doubled in size but visitors could see new exhibitions and larger displays of artifacts associated with Madiba.
“It will be a story line that will inspire the nation. It’s a much bigger museum and a much more engaging one,” he added.
The old museum, housed in one section of the Bhunga Building, had artefacts depicting the former statesman’s “long walk to freedom” from his birth place in Mvezo until his release from prison.
Jarana said they were given the rights to use the entire building, which led to the museum’s closure for renovations in October 2011.
The new facility now includes a reference library, IT centre, children’s room, theatre, exhibition halls and an orientation centre.
“It has been a very difficult project to deal with because it is a heritage building. We had to meet certain minimum standards when we were busy with renovations,” said Jarana.
Similar renovations are also being undertaken at the Qunu museum, which houses a youth centre and accommodation for visitors.
The council is looking for a suitable candidate to run all three sites – Qunu, Mvezo and Bhunga.
An advert was published in Monday’s Dispatch.
He said they were seeking a candidate who understood the journey to freedom in South Africa and someone who “has a big sense of appreciation of the role Nelson Mandela and many of the people who worked alongside him in attaining our freedom played”.
“Most importantly, a leader who will inspire hope in the nation.”
Khwezi Mpumlwana, the first chief executive officer of the Nelson Mandela Museum, resigned in 2011. He was replaced by Bayanda Nyengule, who was suspended in 2014.
Jarana said he could only confirm that Nyengule was no longer in the museum’s employ.
“All I can say is that Mr Nyengule is no longer with us but he did not resign.
“We are pressing ahead with recruitment. We are gearing up the panel. We do not want to waste time,” Jarana said. — zineg@dispatch.co.za
Mandela museum to reopen end of March
The museum council’s deputy chairman Vuyani Jarana said the museum in the Bhunga building had not just doubled in size but visitors could see new exhibitions and larger displays of artifacts associated with Madiba.
“It will be a story line that will inspire the nation. It’s a much bigger museum and a much more engaging one,” he added.
The old museum, housed in one section of the Bhunga Building, had artefacts depicting the former statesman’s “long walk to freedom” from his birth place in Mvezo until his release from prison.
Jarana said they were given the rights to use the entire building, which led to the museum’s closure for renovations in October 2011.
The new facility now includes a reference library, IT centre, children’s room, theatre, exhibition halls and an orientation centre.
“It has been a very difficult project to deal with because it is a heritage building. We had to meet certain minimum standards when we were busy with renovations,” said Jarana.
Similar renovations are also being undertaken at the Qunu museum, which houses a youth centre and accommodation for visitors.
The council is looking for a suitable candidate to run all three sites – Qunu, Mvezo and Bhunga.
An advert was published in Monday’s Dispatch.
He said they were seeking a candidate who understood the journey to freedom in South Africa and someone who “has a big sense of appreciation of the role Nelson Mandela and many of the people who worked alongside him in attaining our freedom played”.
“Most importantly, a leader who will inspire hope in the nation.”
Khwezi Mpumlwana, the first chief executive officer of the Nelson Mandela Museum, resigned in 2011. He was replaced by Bayanda Nyengule, who was suspended in 2014.
Jarana said he could only confirm that Nyengule was no longer in the museum’s employ.
“All I can say is that Mr Nyengule is no longer with us but he did not resign.
“We are pressing ahead with recruitment. We are gearing up the panel. We do not want to waste time,” Jarana said. — zineg@dispatch.co.za
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