Freedom Park Trust explains: The Park is still under construction

The article, A long walk to no freedom in Park, in today's edition of the Business Day refers. On behalf of the Freedom Park Trust, we would like to offer our sincerest apologies to the family and loved ones of Dr Rick Turner.

This is certainly not how we want our visitors to experience the Park. Given the circumstances surrounding this experience, this matter has been receiving top priority of the Freedom Park Trust management and staff. We would like to assure all interested parties that it will be dealt with swiftly.

At the end of March 2009, The Freedom Park will merge from a project to an institution.

We are thus going to great lengths and exploring every possible avenue to upgrade and improve the guest relations aspect of our tour guides and security personnel. This will ensure that they add to the welcoming experience at the Park. Intensive training programmes are being introduced to ensure that our guests are treated to a world-class visiting experience.

What is currently on offer at The Freedom Park is merely the first phase. Once the Park has been completed, the necessary infrastructure will be available to ensure that the visitor experience is as comfortable as possible. We would, however, like to draw our visitors' attention to the fact that the uphill climbs and winding roads serve a very symbolic purpose at The Freedom Park: it stands as a testimony to the arduous road that South Africans had to travel to reach their destination of humanity and freedom. Golf carts are available for the disabled and elderly.

A vital aspect to keep in mind is that although two parts of the Park, namely Isivivane and Sikhumbuto, have been open to the public since 2007, The Freedom Park in its entirety has not yet been completed and is still under construction. For this reason, entrance to the Park is currently free. The Park is being constructed in phases and we are currently busy with Phase IIA, which will include //hapo, an interactive space that will tell the story of the Southern African region dating back 3.6 billion years. //hapo will also house the official welcoming and reception area.

The Wall of Names currently bears 75,000 names of those who died fighting for humanity and freedom in South Africa. The wall has space for 136,000 names to be inscribed. The Wall of Names is not constructed as a fait accompli and allows future generations to add the names of their deserving heroes and heroines.

As the research into the names to be inscribed is and ongoing process, it is virtually impossible to organise the names according to categories such as date of birth or even alphabetically, as the addition of the next batch will automatically disrupt the sequence.

A database of the names inscribed on the walls has, however, been compiled. Upon completion, the Wall of Names will be accompanied by touch screens. These will provide visitors with the exact location of a name on the wall by simply keying in the specific name.

We would also like to assure Dr Turner's family and loved ones that his name has been included in the next batch of names to be inscribed on the wall under the Struggle for Liberation.

Tours are at present mandatory for two reasons. As indicated above, the site is still under construction. We therefore urge our guests to be accompanied by one of our tour guides at all times to ensure their own safety. The safety of our guests is paramount.

Secondly, The Freedom Park is a brand new heritage institution. Literally every part of

The Freedom Park has been constructed using the symbols, history, heritage or spirituality of our nation. Everything in The Freedom Park tells a story. In this entry phase for The Freedom Park, we would like to ensure that our guests are treated to the symbolism and stories behind elements such as the reeds, the curving lines and so forth.

Once the Park has been completed, guests will be able to undertake visits to any element within the Park unaccompanied.

The Freedom Park comprises 52 hectares. It is a national memorial and a Presidential Legacy Project. In terms of security, we have chosen the labour-intensive route as opposed to the impersonal option of cameras being placed all over the premises. The safety of our visitors is one of our main concerns.

We would like to refer all prospective visitors to our website at www.freedompark.co.za for detailed information about the Park and our recommendations on how to ensure a pleasant tour.

Statement issued by the Freedom Park Trust, February 18 2009