Robben Island Museum mismanagement an insult to Madiba
It is deeply concerning that during the peak of tourist visits to Robben Island Museum at the end of last year, trips had to be cancelled due to the breakdown of Sikhululekile, the Museum's main ferry.
According to media reports, the national Department of Arts and Culture-managed Robben Island Museum failed to secure enough chartered boats while Sikhululekile was undergoing repairs. Not only were there insufficient boats, but tour operators complained of poor service from the Museum's staff.
Robben Island Museum represents South Africa and the world's memory of Madiba. Its mismanagement is an insult to this memory.
The continuous breakdown of Sikhululekile has been a problem for over five years. The ferry was initially purchased for R26 million in 2008, despite warnings that it was not suited for inclement weather conditions. By November 2010 it had broken down seven times.
According Robben Island Museum's annual report, revenue from tour sales decreased by R1 382 392 in the 2012/13 financial year.
Furthermore, visitors to Robben Island had declined by 5% in December 2013 compared to December 2012.
Last year the DA discovered that millions of rands had been lost as a result of the continual breakdown of ferries used to transport tourists to and from Robben Island. Particularly:
R1.9 million and R3.2 million was spent repairing the Sikhululekile ferry during the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 financial years respectively;
R858 573 and R775 726 was spent repairing the Dias ferry during the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 financial years respectively; and
R259 7344 was spent on private boat suppliers to ferry visitors to and from Robben Island while Sikhululekile and the Dias were inoperative.
Last year I requested that Robben Island Museum's management be summoned to Parliament to account for the Museum's mismanagement and poor fleet maintenance. However, the Museum failed to make itself available to the Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture for this purpose.
I will now write to the Minister of Arts and Culture, Paul Mashatile, requesting that he appear before Parliament and account for his museum's mismanagement.
South Africa and the world are still mourning the death of Madiba. It is important that all heritage sites where he can be mourned are properly managed. Robben Island Museum has been a problem for many years, this can no longer be tolerated. Madiba, South Africa and the world deserves better.
Statement issued by Niekie van den Berg, DA Shadow Minister of Arts and Culture, January 21 2014
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