Oversight visit wanted to deal with Ohlange Institute's stalled heritage project

THE National Council of Provinces (NCOP) has issued a clarion call for the Public Works and Infrastructure Minister to undertake an urgent oversight visit to the Ohlange Institute, as the R65 million heritage transformation project faces a grim halt.

- SIPHO JACK [e-mail]

This initiative, which was envisioned to uplift the historic institution into a premier global heritage site, has stalled, with numerous concerns surfacing regarding financial mismanagement and neglect.

The Ohlange Institute holds a sacred place in South African history, having been founded in 1900 by John Dube and his wife, Nokutela. It was the first school established by Africans for Africans.

Dube was also the founding president of the South African Native National Congress, which evolved into the ANC in 1923.

This institution has significant cultural and historical relevance, famously serving as the site where former president Nelson Mandela cast his vote for the first time on 27 April 1994.