The Minister of Arts & Culture, Mr Nathi Mthethwa informed Parliament today that 52 new heritage sites – including 33 graves – have been built  been since January 2009 to date at a cost of R833.5-million.

Minister Mthethwa said 11 sites were in disrepair and needed refurbishment.

In a written reply to a question to the Democratic Alliance’s Dr. GA Grootboom, Minister Mthethwa said the amount was budgeted for capital works between 2009 and 2014 period. Also, the provisions for repairs for heritage sites was made within this budget.

“We have built 52 new heritage sites, including the restoration of 33 graves that was catered for in the budget for the period,” said Minister Mthethwa.

The sites and graves that have been identified for declaration and restoration included Beyers Naude at Wespark cemetery in Gauteng,  the Grave of Nokutela Dube at Mayfair Cemetery, Gauteng and the Grave of Rahima Moosa at Newclare Cemetery, Gauteng.

Some of the new statues include the Nelson Mandela Statue in Tshwane, Gauteng, the National Heritage Monument in Tshwane, Gauteng, the OR Tambo Interpretative Centre in Bizana, Eastern Cape and the JL Dube heritage site in Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal.

Monuments that have built are the Matola Monument in Matola, Mozambique, the Inquza Hill Museum at Ingquza, Eastern Cape, the Bambatha statue in Greytown, KwaZulu-Natal, the Weslyen Church at Waaihoek, Free State, the Winnie Mandela house  in Brandfort, Free State and the Bram Fischer’s house in Bloemfontein, Free State.

There were 33 graves and sites declaration in 9 Provinces. Other sites were in Cuito Quanevale in Angola, the Vienna Camp in Angola, the Augustino Netto Memorial in Angola, the Liberation graves in Angola, the Nelson Mandela training Barracks in Ethiopia and Liberation Graves in Tanzania.

For further details, contact the Spokesperson for the Minister of Arts & Culture, Mr Sandile Memela at 0828003750 or Chief Director Communications, Ms Lisa Combrinck at 0828214886