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Ahead of International Museum Day tomorrow, The DA calls on the Departments of Sport, Arts and Culture and Public Works to prioritise the servicing and maintenance of museums in the Northern Cape.

The action of delaying and postponing repairs to the broken air conditioner has reportedly led to the deterioration of valuable artworks at the William Humphreys Art Gallery (WHAG).  It was reported that the problem would only be fixed by the end of 2020. Attention also needs to be given to the maintenance and upkeep of the grounds as it has a negative effect on the building.

At the same time, the McGregor Museum plus the 13 other museums in the province that fall under it, most of which are old buildings, have also been unable to function optimally due to infrastructure challenges which impact on the conservation of collections. With a budget allocation of a mere R406 000, sufficient repairs and maintenance at all 14 museums seem out of reach.

The current state of both the McGregor Museum and the William Humphreys Art Gallery pose threats to the condition of valuable artworks and collections and could negatively affect the number of visitors to both the institutes.

The Sport, Arts and Culture department must get on board with the Government Immovable Asset Management Act (GIAMA) and ensure that maintenance plans and budgets are in place. Simultaneously, Roads and Public Works must intervene to ensure that maintenance does actually take place.

The DA calls on both these departments to show responsibility and urgency by attending to the air conditioning system at WHAG and the other infrastructural challenges facing museums.

Museums play an important role in preserving our heritage, promoting social cohesion and building a better understanding of yesterday so that we can strive for a better tomorrow.

The DA values the importance of museums and their contribution to socio-economic growth.

Issued by DA