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This presentation provides an update on the Ncome Museum, including its history, development phases, current status, and outstanding elements that require intervention. It emphasizes the museum's role in promoting national reconciliation, empowering rural communities, and enhancing heritage tourism and community service. The presentation also highlights the need for operational and maintenance funding for the reconciliation bridge.
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BRIEFING ON THE STATUS OF NCOME MUSEUM02 FEBRUARY 2016 Presented by: Department of Arts and Culture
TABLE OF CONTENTS PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION PHASE 1 PHASE 2 NCOME MUSEUM STATUS OUTSTANDING ELEMENTS AND INTERVENTIONS 2
1. PURPOSE OF THE PRESENTATION • The purpose of this presentation is to brief the Portfolio Committee on the status of the Ncome Museum.
2. PHASE 1 • The Ncome Museum and Monument was constructed to correct the anomaly of a one sided historical perspective on the 1838 war between Voortrekkers and amaZulu; to usher in an era of critical and constructive engagement for the development of a more balanced narrative; and to work towards promoting national reconciliation. • The Ncome-Blood River heritage site thus became the only unique site in South Africa that has two institutions on one battlefield where the Battle of Ncome/Blood River took place on 16 December 1838 between Voortrekkers and amaZulu. • Phase 1 was completed in 1998 and officially opened on 26 November 1999 by the former President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Thabo Mbeki. • Architecturally, the Museum structure has been built in a shape of a buffalo horn war formation - a military strategy initiated by King Shaka. • It became evident, however, that additional facilities, that would benefit the surrounding communities, would enhance the Museum and its purpose. Hence the inception of the design and construction of Phase 2
3. PHASE 2 • Phase 2 was unveiled by President Zuma on Reconciliation Day 16 December 2014. • The state of the art elements of phase 2 enhances the tourism value of the site and responds to government’s objective of developing and empowering rural communities through rural infrastructure development which could result in employment and economic opportunities through heritage tourism. • The educational and recreational facilities increase the educational and community service value of the site for learners, researchers and the communities in the surrounding villages. • Phase 2 includes a multi-purpose hall with industrial kitchen; staff offices; a mini library; work room and curio shop for artwork; 8 tourist huts including ablution facilities; 4 staff houses; and 1 security guard house; a mural wall painting; an exhibition and the reconciliation bridge.
4. NCOME MUSEUM STATUS • At the time of its establishment in 1999/2000 the then Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology (DACST) envisaged that the Ncome Museum would form part of a museum flagship that was in the process of being established for KwaZulu-Natal. • Ncome Museum would be incorporated as a satellite of the Voortrekker Museum since the Msunduzi/Voortrekker and Ncome Museums were founded around related themes and historical events. • DACST therefore requested the Council of the then Voortrekker Museum to take control of Ncome Museum and the Council approved this request.
4. NCOME MUSEUM STATUS cont. • The Msunduzi/Voortrekker Museum Council became the accounting authority of the Msunduzi/Voortrekker and Ncome museums and the Director became the accounting officer of both institutions. • The funding to the amount of R13 146 000 for the Ncome museum is channelled to the Msunduzi /Voortrekker museum’s account. • All the income and other financial transactions and purchases of Ncome Museums are approved by the Msunduzi/Voortrekker Museum.
4. NCOME MUSEUM STATUS cont. • The Council of the Voortrekker Museum indicated in 2004 to the Ministry that, in order to enable Ncome Museum to develop on its own it should operate as an autonomous institution in accordance with the Cultural Institutions Act as the current arrangement, according to the council does not assist the Ncome Museum to attain its full status. • The department however provided no positive response to such requests by the council. • The reason for this is the pending policy decision on whether it is sustainable to create new free standing institutions or whether it would be more cost effective to establish more flagships and thus streamline attendant operational costs.. • The current process of the revision of the White Paper on Arts and Culture lean towards the rationalisation of both institutions and their councils.
5. OUTSTANDING ELEMENTS AND INTERVENTIONS • The reconciliation bridge has unfortunately been closed by the Blood River Monument shortly after the opening of phase 2 as the Blood River Monument indicated through the Voortrekker Monument (as the entity responsible for the Blood River Monument) that they cannot keep the bridge open without operational and maintenance funding from DAC. • The Department has committed to transfer R1 300 000 operational funds to the Voortrekker Monument for the 2015/2016 financial year. • To date, the DAC has transferred R1, 170 000 to the Voortrekker Monument in August 2015, and will transfer an additional R130 000 on submission of a comprehensive report before the end of the current financial year.
5. OUTSTANDING ELEMENTS AND INTERVENTIONS cont. • DAC has informed the Monument that it cannot sustain transferring funds to it as neither the Voortrekker Monument nor the Blood River Monument are not Declared Cultural Institutions and National Treasury has indicated that DAC should not fund non Declared Cultural Institutions.
