The construction of the Gugulethu Memorial Monument got underway on Monday 25 August following a sod-turning ceremony earlier in the day.
The monument which features the Gugulethu logo will be located on the corner of NY 108 and NY1. Construction is expected to take a minimum of two weeks, with the unveiling ceremony earmarked for Thursday 18 September.
Various stakeholders joined the monument steering committee for the sod-turning ceremony.
Dr Mzwandile Plaatjie, chair of the steering committee, said the establishment of the monument has been long overdue. He said they believe the monument will change the perception people have about the area. “The erection of the monument started as soon as we turned the sod. The contraction is underway, and it is expected to be completed within two weeks. But, we will unveil it on Thursday 18 September,” said Plaatjie.
Elaborating on what the monument will have, Plaatjie said it will contain important pieces of information about the local history. He stated that it is vital for the community to write its own history instead of waiting for the outsiders to tell them about it.
“Gugulethu has a rich history and part of it is unknown because it is not written down. We want people to come out and tell their stories. We want Gugulethu to be a tourist destination,” he said.
Gugulethu Development Forum (GDF) secretary Vincent Domingo said they are pleased with the progress. He urged the community to take its ownership and preserve it.
“This is a great initiative, our community, especially children will learn more about our history. I wish that other areas can follow in our footsteps. They must write their own history,” said Domingo.
