Row Erupts Over Declaring Nelson Mandela’s Birthplace a National Heritage

Chief Mandla Mandela, Nelson Mandela’s grandson has angered the Nelson Mandela Museum by defiantly pushing ahead with plans to develop his grandfather’s birthplace. Former President Nelson Nelson Mandela’s birthplace at Mvezo, in the Eastern Cape, is earmarked to become a national heritage site. But Mandla, supported by villagers, is building new structures in the area against the wishes of the museum’s leadership.

Attempts to find common ground have proved futile, and the museum’s chairman, Professor Kader Asmal, received a hostile public reception from villagers during two visits to the area this year.

Mandla defended Mvezo villagers for not giving Asmal a hearing. “They’ve witnessed a museum being erected without their consent in 2000. Now, eight years down the line, Asmal comes here asking to strengthen relations, ” said Chief Mandla Mandela during an address in Mvezo on Sunday.

Asmal would only say: “Under the circumstances, the chairman of the museum has nothing to say.”

Minister of Arts and Culture Pallo Jordan said that Mandela’s birthplace was an important heritage site, under the umbrella of the Nelson Mandela Museum. But Mandla said villagers wanted to be consulted before outsiders were allowed to meddle in the area.

“As far as we’re concerned, what’s important for Mvezo people, for now, is to have access to basic things like water, electricity and the development of the area. Anyone with other plans about my grandfather’s home will have to share his view with my people,” he said.

Mandla Mandela, who is chief of the area has already erected his own home adjacent to the site where Mandela was born. He also built six mud huts on the crumbling foundations of Mandela’s original homestead.

He plans to build a tribal court, multipurpose center and cultural center.

Jordan said he had recently received a letter from the museum about the matter.

He said it was up to the South African National Heritage Resources Agency (Sahra) to comment.

Mandla is the eldest child of Mandela’s son Makgatho, who died three years ago.

Source African Press Agency

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