Mr Khotso Sesele, on the occasion of the hand over of the Methodist Church,
Thaba Nchu.
29 March 2009
Programme director
Honoured guests
Ladies and gentlemen
No matter how we look at it, historical memory is the catalyst or a
Prerequisite for the preservation of communities and nations. We meet today to
bear testimony to this historical fact. Communities and nations have for
centuries preserved their historical artifacts and institutions as a constant
reminder of who they are and where they are from. This being the defining
feature of heritage, the sustenance of nations into the future was based on the
collective memory of the individuals constituting those nations.
Today we are gathered here at Thaba Nchu to bear testimony to the hand over
of the oldest building in the Free State, the Methodist Church building which
is hundred and seventy years old, having been completed in 1839. The history of
this church is inextricably linked to the history of Thaba Nchu. As recently
noted by Reverend Deon Lombard of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, in
the year 1833, approximately 12 000 Barolong, Griquas and Korannas of the
Wesleyan Mission Stations on the Vaal River moved to Thaba Nchu. Six years
later this church was built.
The historical significance of this church is summarised by Reverend Lombard
in his motivation for its restoration. He states that this building âspeaks of
the legacy of missionaries who helped shape a community. In addition, the
building represents a time when both indigenous peoples and Voortrekkers
received pastoral care from the Wesleyan mission in Thaba Nchu.â Reverend
Lombard continues to state that this church was âthe longest surviving despite
the wars, internecine strife, annexation and territorial disputes that often
vexed the area.â
Programme director, ladies and gentlemen, surely we should all be happy
about the fact that government has risen to the occasion to restore this church
building so that it does not crumble. To allow this church building to
collapse, again in the words of Reverend Lombard, âwill be an act tantamount to
erasing one of the few testimonies from history.â
As government, through the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, which is
the custodian of heritage resources, we indeed could not allow such an act of
erasing testimony from history as represented by this edifice. To allow such an
act will be in contradiction of what we stand for, which is the preservation of
memory, heritage and promotion of social cohesion. As government we are called
upon by our Constitution and various pieces of legislation such as the Heritage
Resources Act of 1999 to preserve our heritage, both tangible and intangible
for current and future generations. This is particularly so with regard to the
heritage of the previously disadvantaged peoples which was marginalised or
oppressed in the past.
I want to express my appreciation to our colleagues in the Department of
Public Works for having managed to secure funds to assist in the restoration of
this historical edifice. These kinds of projects not only assist in the
preservation of our historical sites, but also contribute towards the social
and economic upliftment of our communities. Through the Extended Public Works
Programme (EPWP) we should be able to restore more of these kinds of our
priceless heritage architectural structures in the province and thus create
work opportunities in our communities.
In assisting to restore historical sites of this cultural significance,
which are and should be declared provincial heritage sites, we will also be
promoting them as tourist attractions. The economy of local communities around
these cultural heritage sites should be able to benefit from the tourism boom
that shall have been generated. In our quest to fight poverty and create jobs
for all we should therefore think innovatively about ways in which our cultural
and historical places can be used to benefit the general communities around
these places.
Conclusion
Honoured guests, the significance of this church in the history of
Thaba
Nchu and the Free State in general, as well as its impact on the community of
Thaba Nchu, cannot be underestimated. It is noted that the church has served
the community in many different ways. We hope and trust that it will continue
to do so into the distant future.
Thank you.
Issued by: Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, Free State Provincial
Government
29 March 2009
Source: Free State Provincial Government (http://www.fs.gov.za)
