THE construction of the Sarah Baartman Remembrance Centre, which was to be an empowerment project for Hankey-residents, is yet to be completed – five years later.
The aim of the project, which started in April 2014, is to pay tribute to Sarah Baartman, create jobs and boost Hankey’s local economy.
At the start of the project, it was promised that 1 000 jobs would be created during the construction phase and that 134 people would get a permanent job upon completion.
“Instead, five years down the line, the people have been saddled with a growing financial burden, as costs have ballooned from R165 million to more than R200 million,” says DA Deputy Shadow Minister of Public Works, Samantha Graham-Maré, who recently conducted an oversight inspection at the centre with Sarah Baartman District Municipality DA Councillor, Henni Britz.
“Very little has come of the promised construction jobs for locals. The 134 full-time employment opportunities at the centre are currently nothing more than pipe dreams.
“Poor planning and even worse workmanship have resulted in zero benefits for the people of Hankey from this project t of erected by the National Department of Public Works on behalf of the Department of Arts and Culture.”
According to Graham- Maré the completion of the centre has been delayed several times.
“An initial completion date of October 2016 was given, which was extended to March 2019. More than a year and a half later, and the centre is still far from complete,” she says.
“A change of contractors and worker unrest due to non-payment, have also put spokes in the wheels of this project.”
“The centre has the potential to become a major tourist attraction and draw visitors to the Hankey area, says Kouga Local Economic Development and Tourism portfolio Councillor, Frances Baxter.
“This will be of great benefit to the local economy, businesses and job creation.
“It is, therefore, deeply disappointing that the national government has been unable to complete the project.”
Graham-Maré will now be submitting parliamentary questions to determine the estimated costs of completing the project, the expected completion date and the purpose of the project – aside from the honouring of Sarah Baartman.
- Sarah Baartman, who was born in 1789 in the Gamtoos Valley, later moved to Cape Town with her family. Here her unique physique was noticed by Dr William Dunlop, a British surgeon, who paid her to travel to London, where she was exhibited as a freak show attraction.
Years later she was sold to a circus owner in Paris, where she died on 29 December 1815.
Former President Nelson Mandela requested in 1994 that her remains be returned to South Africa.
It was not until 2002 that it arrived in South Africa and she found her last resting place on a hill in her hometown, Hankey.
