Vusubuntu Cultural Village in Eastern Cape
9 July 2007
"The blood of all liberation fighters who were permanently removed here in
Cradock and elsewhere watered the tree of freedom which we enjoy today. We must
guard jealously against anybody who threatens to take away the democracy for
which people paid with lives to bring about its existence," said Deputy
Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Rejoice Mabudafhasi during the
launch of the Cradock Four Garden of Remembrance and Vusubuntu Cultural village
in the Eastern Cape, today (9 July).
Mabudafhasi officially turned the sod for the construction of a memorial
building complex in commemoration of the Cradock Four. The Department of
Environmental Affairs and Tourism has set aside R15 million for the
construction of the Garden of Remembrance in honour of the liberation
stalwarts. The Garden of Remembrance is funded as part of the department's
social responsibility programme which aims to contribute to the poverty
alleviation and development efforts of government in general. The project is
now in the phase two component. Implementation and construction already started
in the second week of June 2007.
22 years ago, June 1985 to be exact, Matthew Goniwe, Sparrow Mkhonto, Fort
Calata and Sicelo Mhlauli met a gruesome murder at the hands of the infamous
seven South African Defence Force security officers while fighting for our
human rights.
Death Squad Police who were issued with orders to kill as the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission later found, set up a road-block to intercept Matthew
Goniwe's car. The Cradock Four activists, as they are known today, were
returning to Cradock from a United Democratic Front meeting in Port
Elizabeth.
The police abducted them. They were tortured, stabbed and shot to death and
subsequently their lifeless bodies burnt in their car. Burning of bodies was an
infamous police strategy to disguise the assassination as carried out by other
black political opponents.
Mabudafhasi said that the initiative is aimed at creating opportunities for
job creation and poverty eradication within the Cradock area. "We believe the
broader goal of the Cradock Four was to deliver human rights which would
include equal distribution of the wealth of this country and our efforts to
improve socio-economic development in this area are aligned to this goal,"
emphasised Mabudafhasi.
In addition the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism has provided
R13 million for the construction of a tourism centre, research on the history
of Cradock, construction of accommodation facilities and refurbishments of
existing infrastructure at Vusubuntu Cultural Village. Mabudafhasi indicated
that the plan to include a Tourism Information Centre demonstrated our
collective intent to widen the scope of visitors to all members of the global
community.
Mabudafhasi expressed pleasure on learning of the plan to train community
members as tour guides in order to make them competent to provide the requisite
services to tourists.
"Tourists visiting this area will therefore be exposed to the history of our
struggle for liberation, especially the contribution that our fallen heroes and
heroines made towards the achievement of democracy and freedom in our country.
In this way, we will be able to preserve our history and culture for many
generations to come," she said.
The Deputy Minister commented that tourists visit South Africa and other
African countries to learn about our cultures and our way of life. "They want
to experience sleeping in our traditional huts and taste our traditional food.
Attempts to impress them with hotels will prove to be a futile exercise in the
long run they come from their highly developed countries with lots of best
hotels ranging from 5 stars upwards," she explained.
Mabudafhasi urged South Africans to have pride in showing tourists our
traditional lifestyles. She added that if we designed chalets the way our
traditional huts are built, we would certainly attract more tourists who are
searching for a refreshing environment.
The Greening Project at Nxuba ye Themba was applauded by the Deputy
Minister. To date six schools have already been completed (3 in Cradock and 3
in Middelburg) and the remaining five are currently underway. A Youth centre, 2
graveyards (Cradock), Cradock entrance from Middleburg, municipal nursery and
Nonzame monument are all in progress. The Cradock entrance from Port Elizabeth
is almost complete. This greening project has been allocated R4 000 000.
Mabudafhasi concluded by stating that the best way to remember and honour
the Cradock Four was to ensure the viability and sustainability of the Cradock
Four Garden of Remembrance as a vehicle for creating a better life for all.
For more information please contact:
Mava Scott
Chief Director: Communications
Cell: 082 411 982
Moses Rannditsheni
Media Liaison Officer
Tel: 012 310 3899
Cell: 082 448 2450
E-mail: MRannditsheni@deat.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
9 July 2007
