Shop owners and residents in and around the historic Walter Sisulu Square in Kliptown, Soweto are feeling the economic and social impact of the continued neglect of this heritage site by the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation. This department and its MEC, Matome Chiloane, have failed to respond to the urgent need to operationalise this national heritage site and ensure that it improves the livelihoods of the local residents. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng demands that MEC Chiloane stops acting deaf and urgently refurbish and fully operationalise this facility.
The once booming and significant square stands as a symbol of broken promises and abandonment. There is no running water and electricity in most parts of the square, parts of the roofing have been stripped, exposing the interior to the external elements like rain, door frames have been removed, and some walls have been visibly burnt.
See photos here, here, here and here.
These infrastructure challenges make it impossible for traders to thrive and contribute to the local economy. The Soweto Hotel, which stands close to the square, reported that it sometimes goes without water for days, which disrupts its operations. Another business owner bemoaned the lack of electricity in the area, forcing shop owners to use generators.
The infrastructure decay is compounded by growing safety concerns articulated by traders and community members. They reported that it is unsafe to walk around the area at night as one might get robbed by criminals. This situation dissuades tourists, which hurts their businesses.
The neglect of this important facility that used to house important South African historical artefacts, a clinic, a post office, and a licensing department is distasteful and must be strongly condemned.
It clearly demonstrates another leadership failure by Panyaza Lesufi. The Premier should never have entrusted the dual function of leading the education and SACR departments to MEC Chiloane, because he is clearly out of his depth and on course of destroying both our education system and heritage.
The DA has handed a petition to the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) demanding the refurbishment and operationalisation of this heritage site. To date there has been no response. As a next step, we will refer this matter to the Public Protector seeking an urgent investigation and immediate operationalisation of this facility.
Walter Sisulu Square has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life for residents of Kliptown by attracting tourists and investors. The inflow of tourists could lead to the creation of job opportunities. It is regrettable that this potential has not been fully leveraged, as the square remains abandoned and vulnerable to vandalism and theft.
The DA will not allow this important monument to depreciate and rot while there is much to be gained from restoring it to its former glory. We will exploit all tools to push MEC Chiloane into urgent action for the benefit of our people.