The installation of the long-awaited Gugulethu Memorial Monument will officially take place in August on the City-approved site unveiled a year ago (“Monument celebrates the past” City Vision, 9 May 2024) on the corner of NY108 and NY 1.
The Gugulethu Memorial Monument steering committee’s Dr Mzwandile Plaatjie said everything was in order and there was no turning back.
He said it took as long as it did as the City’s approval was awaited. “Our monument was completed a long time ago, and we were waiting for the City’s approval because we can’t just install something like this without it, given the installation will take place on its land.”
Plaatjie said the monument will reflect the identity of the area. The aim is to make Gugulethu one of the tourist destinations of the city, he said.
“We are going to install it at the entry to the area, where it will be easy for people to see. It will have historical events related to the area depicted or inscribed on it, for people to see or read and be informed. Such an objective has the potential to create jobs for tourist guides.”
Gugulethu Development Forum (GDF) secretary Vincent Domingo said he can hardly wait for the installation to take place, because it has far reaching implications for the area.
“As the GDF we are fully supportive of the initiative; we are hoping it will bring all the positive into the area. We supporting all initiatives or developments that bring positive change to our community. We believe our people, especially young people, will benefit the most from something like this, for they will learn the dynamic history of our area.”
