In the entire Red Location Precinct, which includes, the Red Location Museum, the Digital Library and Art Gallery, the only building that is operational is the museum.
In the 2011/12 financial year R3 million was allocated to operationalise the digital library and art gallery. This is an insufficient portion of the estimated R10 million required to run both buildings.
Nonetheless it was agreed that the following positions would be filled to ensure that the facilities could be opened to the community:
- Red Location Gallery: Chief Curator – R530 241.60
- Red Location Gallery: Exhibitions Curator – R256 733.04
- Red Location Digital Library: Resource Manager – R366 247.68
- Red Location Precinct and associated facilities: Finance and Administration Officer – R256 733.04
- Red Location Precinct Facilities and Maintenance Officer – R331 835.76
Total Staff Cost: R1 741 791.12
Difference to service operational needs: R1 258 208.90
In spite of this budget allocation these facilities remain closed to the community.
The current state of the Red Location Precinct is a monumental failure of integrated strategic planning and communication between all stakeholders, namely: National Treasury, Bisho and Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.
This situation is a prime example of when capital projects sponsored by grant funding become the operational burden of a low capacity local government that cannot implement their end of the deal.
Plans are now underway to introduce Phase 3 of the precinct which is to include a Performing Arts Complex. Until the Digital Library and Art Gallery are fully operational we cannot allow the next phase to go ahead.
I have long been a supporter of, and regular visitor to, the Red Location Museum and I continue to take visitors to the museum in order to share our country’s rich history. However, the current condition of the broader precinct can not be ignored and we must ensure that it becomes a top priority.
I will be submitting questions to Director: Arts, Culture and Libraries, Veliswa Gwintsa, and I expect answers by our next committee meeting on June 14th.
Andrew Whitfield
