This past Sunday, 28 October 2018, one of the huts at the Credo Mutwa Village was burnt, allegedly by some teenagers who were visiting the site. The matter was reported to the police, who are investigating the incident.
“I am saddened by this – the Credo Mutwa Village, also known as the Kwakhaya Lendaba (the Place of Stories) is located in Jabavu, Soweto and contains a fascinating collection of sculptures weaving together historical figures and mythological beings, amongst dwellings from a variety of African building styles – the burnt Xhosa-style hut being one of them”, said MMC for Community Development, Cllr Nonhlanhla Sifumba.
The City of Johannesburg will ensure that those responsible are brought to book, and that the hut is restored and the cultural village remains preserved for future generations. We will also ensure that security and fire safety mechanisms in the facility continue to work so that such incidents are not a common recurrence, and ensure that there is not extensive damage.
“As a City, we are committed to the protection, preservation, and conservation of our heritage. We would like to encourage our communities to take pride in the heritage sites in the City and to guard them jealousy as our shared legacy”, said MMC Sifumba.
The wonderful collection of sculptures and buildings were created by author, artist and traditional healer - Credo Mutwa around the 1970s and early 1980s. The traditional dwellings imaginatively represent building patterns from across Africa, while human and mythological figures bring to life African folk-lore, beliefs and traditions as seen through the artistic vision of Credo Mutwa.
Perched above Mutwa’s village stands the Oppenheimer Tower, offering panoramic views of Soweto. The tower was built in 1957 as a tribute to the contribution of mining magnate Sir Ernest Oppenheimer to alleviating the housing crisis in Soweto.
Together with the Oppenheimer Tower, the cultural village is set within the Oppenheimer Gardens, a public park originally developed for indigenous and medicinal plants.
It thus falls on all of us to guard these heritage sites for the enjoyment of future generations. We would like to encourage all our residents to report any suspicious behavior at our heritage sites.
Issued by:
Cllr Nonhlanhla Sifumba
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development
City of Joburg
For information and media queries, please contact:
Ms Karabo Tledima
Stakeholder Manager
Office of MMC for Community Development
Cell: 061 794 3819
Email: Karabot@joburg.org.za
