A project to honour and recognise those who played a critical role in the development of Mdantsane, the province's biggest and the country's second biggest township, is on the cards.
The provincial government plans to erect a Mdantsane Heroes Memorial Park at the township's Sisa Dukashe stadium. The project will cost over R300,000 in its initial stages.
This envisaged project, spearheaded by the provincial department of sports, recreation, arts & culture (DSRAC), was revealed at a recent Buffalo City Metro council meeting. The sprawling township celebrates 60 years of existence.
The memorial will include a wall of remembrance.
According to a report presented in council by BCM's head of sport, recreation & community development Mawethu Marata, the project was initiated by DSRAC. The metro was brought on board since the stadium, where the proposed memorial will be built, belongs to the city.
In a letter to city manager Mxolisi Yawa from DSRAC head of department Sibongile Mpofu, it was stated that the memorial would be a “symbolic representation of local excellence that needs to be profiled and promoted in a manner that fosters social cohesion”.
DSRAC spokesperson Andile Nduna said: “The department has identified Mdantsane as one of the iconic areas in the province, whose history and heritage have not been acknowledged and promoted as part of the Home of Legends campaign.”
The township was established as a result of forced removals in the 1960s, caused by the infamous Group Areas Act of 1950.
Black communities from East London were forcefully removed from the inner city and shunted to the outskirts, including Mdantsane, some 60 years ago.
Towards the end of 1963 and 1964, over 112,000 people from around Duncan Village were forcibly moved to the township. The township's population since then has expanded drastically.
“Despite the hardships experienced by victims of forced removals and apartheid laws, Mdantsane communities rose and used their talents and expertise to create a solid foundation for cultural excellence in sport, arts, culture, heritage, education, politics and business.
“The project will profile their huge contribution in attaining freedom and democracy in SA,” said Nduna.
He said the stadium had been chosen because it was a “culturally and historically significant facility”.
This is part of the department's plan to develop the province's resistance and liberation heritage route.
Metro spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said the memorial “seeks to contextualise 60 years of forced removal of black communities”.
“Moreover, to pay homage to iconic figures who over time changed their situation and the complexion of the township through significant achievements that eventually put Mdantsane on national and international maps.
“Council resolved and referred the matter to BCM administration to activate the processes which are in progress,” Ngwenya said.
Consultations have been embarked upon with the Mdantsane parliamentary constituency office, councillors, Mdantsane Sports Council, Ubuntu Boxing Fraternity, Mdantsane Boxing Organisation, Eastern Cape Provincial Heritage Resources Agency, military veterans, and the BCM Development Agency.
“Consultations are ongoing as other stakeholders and social partners are in the process of being engaged.
“The plan is to build the memorial in September and unveil it in November to wrap up the 60th anniversary of the existence and settlement of the township.
“We also intend calling on the people of Mdantsane to submit names with profiles of local heroes and heroines whose names will be inscribed on the memorial.
“This is aimed at ensuring the process was informed by open and transparent public participation processes. This would ensure a buy-in and endorsement by communities from there and beyond the township,” said Ngwenya.
In the project, DSRAC would collaborate with BCM, sister departments and state entities, “to implement the ambitious and historically significant heritage project that is expected to contribute to local economic development”.
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