Save this national heritage site
RIVONIA – The 31 staff members at the heritage site last received salaries in December last year, with many now struggling to put food on the table.
Liliesleaf national heritage site, based in Rivonia, appeals to community members to support their crowdfunding campaign.
The heritage site which served as the secret headquarters for the ANC, SACP, Umkhonto we Sizwe and Congress Alliance between 1961 and 1963 is facing a dire financial crisis.
CEO of Liliesleaf Nicholas Wolpe said, “In fact, financially the situation has gotten worse. Our debt each month is increasing due to our inability to pay our service providers and the interest compounding on our overdraft. Thus, as soon as we can clear and settle our outstanding debts, this will be a start and pave the way for Liliesleaf to start addressing the other crucial issues confronting the trust.”
Wolpe added that the heritage site had not received the required or necessary funding from the national government and all the corporates they have approached have indicated that they were unable to provide either legacy project or core operational funding.
“We also have been unable to secure Covid rescue funding which the government has made available.”
The 31 staff members at the heritage site last received salaries in December last year, with many now struggling to put food on the table.
Wolpe said any donation, big or small, would be greatly appreciated and would contribute to ensuring that history was preserved and protected.
He added that the liberation struggle history housed at this site was hanging on by a thread.
The restoration of the site to its pre-lockdown condition required a two-pronged approach:
Firstly, in the short to medium phase, Liliesleaf required funding to support core operational expenses to cover the next two to three years which would provide breathing space for the trust to embark on establishing an endowment.
Secondly, an endowment was necessary to ensure the heritage site’s long term sustainability and survival.
In August, Liliesleaf will celebrate 60 years since its purchase and on 27 April, 27 years since the country’s first democratic election.
Locals are invited to support the crowdfunding campaign by donating R27 to mark Freedom Day or R60 to mark the site’s 60 years in operation.
Details: Visit www.liliesleaf.co.za/donations/
Related articles:
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/291372/overgrown-and-unmaintained-national-heritage-site/
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/ten-freedom-fighters-arrested-liliesleaf-farm/
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/256405/iconic-liliesleaf-farm-closed-due-covid-19/
