The indefinite closure of Liliesleaf Farm, a heritage site that housed freedom fighters, is a slap in the face of all those who died fighting for democracy.
Liliesleaf Trust founder and chief executive Nicholas Wolpe, who for 20 years kept the legacy of the 18,000sqm property in Rivonia, Sandton, told Sowetan the closure of the farm was the worst form of betrayal by the government to a legacy and history of its country.
The farm closed its doors on Wednesday after years of swirling in a financial storm that was exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic last year.
“We have been surviving on life support machine for a long time and that tank has finally run out. We have lost the battle but we are still in the fight which requires government support. It’s unfortunate that our government does not see the importance of heritage sites in this country. This is a huge betrayal to the values that this place represents, ” said Wolpe.
The indefinite closure of the farm means 28 staff members will stay at home with no salaries. The farm’s creditors will also have to wait until it gets back on its feet.
In April, Wolpe told Sowetan that the heritage facility owed R7.5m to its creditors, R4m in overdraft with Absa, R1m to SA Revenue Service and over R1.5m to staff who had to take salary cuts last year and have not received their salaries since January.
Ordinarily, the farm runs on R1m monthly of which 55% goes to salaries, R25,000 is spent on utilities, R12,000 on water, R25,000 information technology, R25,000 general maintenance, R25,000 on security and R45,000 on repairing exhibitions.
The farm has been accepting visits for at least three days since lockdown started until its closure. But Wolpe said liquidation was not on the cards.
In a desperate bid to save the museum last week, Wolpe reached out to premier David Makhura via WhatsApp to seek intervention. In the text Wolpe also said Gauteng arts and culture MEC Mbali Hlophe had promised to look into the funding of the privately owned heritage site.
“I must confess, given the dire financial plight Liliesleaf, museums, other sites of memory and that arts are facing, I’m bewildered as it would appear and seem MEC Hlophe has taken no further steps or action,” read the message.
Wolpe said Makhura never responded to his text. Sowetan on Wednesday also reached out to Makhura and his spokesperson Vuyo Mhaga for comment but both did not reply to texts and calls at the time of going to print.
Hlophe’s spokesperson, Nkosana Mtolo, said they were aware of the challenges at Liliesleaf Farm.
“With regards to Liliesleaf our department has been in contact with the Lilieslief Trustees, who have unequivocally indicated that no resolution to close the Lilieslief museum indefinitely was ever taken by the trust.
“We were equally made aware of some of the governance challenges the museum has been facing and the department will be advised accordingly on a way forward once the trustees deal with the internal issues,” said Mtolo.
Mtolo said that they support all historical sites.“However, due to the fact that we are dealing with state resources, accountability for the funds is essential. A concern shared by both ourselves and the trustees. In this regard we await guidance from the trustees and find comfort in knowing that the museum is not going to be closed indefinitely,” he said.
The farm is regarded as one of the foremost national heritage institutions in the country and served as a secret hideout and headquarters of the ANC, SACP, Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) between 1961 and 1963.
In 2002, it was declared a heritage site, receiving about 600 tourists monthly.
Arts and heritage expert, poet and sculptor Prof Pitika Ntuli regards the closure of the farm as a blow to SA heritage. Ntuli said SA lacked the understanding and importance of protecting the heritage and archiving its history.
“Liliesleaf Farm made Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Oliver Reginald Tambo and others. Liliesleaf played a crucial role because of the spirit that vibrated from that place. It is a shame because we don't even have huge monuments of these heroes in that area. We are insulting our heritage. I think we have internalised racism. There is a self-hate when it gets to issues of heritage. We can protest against other people's monuments but we don't even understand the need to preserve our heritage,” said Ntuli.
Ntuli said the significance for having such key heritage sites was important to remind the country where it comes from. He said Liliesleaf Farm needs to be kept alive for younger generations to understand where the Struggle started
“A lot of people were arrested, killed and some of them went to exile during apartheid. We need to archive such information for future generations.”
The liquidation of Mandela’s House Museum in Vilakazi Street, Soweto, to pay off debt owed by the Soweto Heritage Trust of which Mandela was a founder is currently on hold. Additional reporting by Patience Bambelele.
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