The Alexandra Heritage Centre, previously known as the Nelson Mandela Museum, stands to lose thousands of books in donations unless the City of Johannesburg can pull its weight into developing an archiving project plan for the centre.
According to Alex historian and once curator of the centre, Thabo Mopasi, a number of organisations, including the Wits University have tonnes of books to donate to the centre but can only do so when they have surety of a proper and well-established archiving plan and project in place.
ALSO READ: NPO feeds the Alex community on Heritage Day
Mopasi, who was involved in the conceptualisation and the ultimate building of the centre more than 20 years ago, said the development of an arching system was part of the project plan of building the centre to house the rich history of this iconic township that was once home to numerous ANC leaders, including former President Nelson Mandela.
“There are numerous organisations that have expressed interest in stocking up books at the centre but have demanded to be given the archiving plan to satisfy themselves that when they hand over the books, they will be well looked after.
“They fear that without this plan in place, they are not guaranteed that the books will be taken care of,” said Mopasi, who recently took delivery of some books from Cape Town, some of which are destined for the centre.
ALSO READ: Shoprite Group donates surplus food worth R53 million to community centres
“I have asked the City to formalise an official hand over of the books that will be well documented and I am still waiting for a formal acknowledgement of the request,” said Mopasi who has a vast of knowledge and history of the township and resembles a walking encyclopaedia.
ALSO READ: Twala resurrects Mandela’s memory board
As if to add insult to injury, Mopasi said the City is still to issue an occupancy certificate for the centre despite numerous activities already taking place, including the sale of traditional arts and crafts and other artefacts.
Meanwhile, the City of Johannesburg had not responded to a request for comment by the time of going to press despite withholding the story for three weeks in anticipation of the comment.
