Note to Editors: Attached please find a soundbite in English here and Afrikaans here by Leanne De Jager MPL.
• DA warns JAG artworks could be at risk if relocated to Museum Africa.
• Oversight inspection found poor climate control, water damage and inadequate security.
• DA demands answers on the relocation timeline, artworks affected and safeguards.
The proposal to move certain artworks from the Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG) to Museum Africa in Newtown raises serious concerns about preserving irreplaceable cultural heritage, particularly since the museum has been deemed unsuitable. In addition, the Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Jacob Mamabolo, has not answered crucial questions concerning the proposed relocation.
The DA demands that Mamabolo provide clear answers on the timeframe for the proposed relocation, which artworks are earmarked for relocation, and which company will be appointed to prepare them for relocation. The proposed relocation involves a invaluable public art collection. Mamabolo should provide adequate information on how the move will be managed, who will be entrusted with the artworks, and what measures will be taken to protect them.
A recent Democratic Alliance oversight inspection at Museum Africa, which I attended with Councillor Lyrics Mazibuko, found that the upper-level storage area earmarked for the collection is unfit for purpose. Climate control is inadequate, water penetration is causing mould and ceiling damage, and the storage area is secured by little more than a trapdoor. The installed alarm system was not functioning. This is despite millions reportedly spent on upgrades.
See photos here, here, here and here.
The DA has previously warned that this relocation was premature, fundamentally flawed, and risked placing Johannesburg’s cultural heritage in jeopardy. The South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) has also raised concerns about the proposed plan to relocate the JAG collection to Museum Africa. These concerns echo those of architects, art specialists, engineers and the Friends of JAG, all of whom warned that the facility is not suited to safely housing these artworks.
This is not a criticism of Museum Africa’s management. Despite limited funding, they do their best to host quality exhibitions, and they deserve credit for it. But good management cannot compensate for a facility that lacks the climate control, security, and conservation standards that a valuable art collection requires.
A DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government would take a different approach by prioritising the protection, preservation, and accessibility of our cultural heritage. We would secure sustainable funding for museums and heritage institutions, ensuring that maintenance is properly planned and budgeted. We would swiftly move the JAG artworks to a facility that meets appropriate security, climate-control, and conservation requirements.