PRESENTATION TO THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON ARTS AND
CULTURE ON 2 NOVEMBER 2011
by
MAJOR GENERAL (RTD) GERT OPPERMAN
MANAGING DIRECTOR THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION
DIRECTOR THE VOORTREKKER MONUMENT AND NATURE RESERVE
HISTORY OF THE VOORTREKKER MONUMENT
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INAUGURATED 16 DECEMBER 1949
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BECAME SEC 21 COMPANY IN 1993
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NEW MANAGEMENT MARCH 2000
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ESTABLISHED HERITAGE FOUNDATION IN 2002
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MANAGEMENT OF VOORTREKKER MONUMENT AND THE HERITAGE
FOUNDATION PLACED UNDER SEPARATE MANAGING DIRECTORS: 1
AUG 2011
BASIC MANAGEMENT APPROACH OF THE
VOORTREKKER MONUMENT
MANAGEMENT PHILOSOPHY BASED ON PILLARS OF:
o GOOD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
o EXCELLENT SERVICE
o AGGRESSIVE MARKETING
ALL IN FAITH, WITH PASSION AND VERY HARD WORK
AGGRESSIVE MARKETING AIMED AT IMPROVING:
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ITS IMAGE AND LEGITIMACY
o
PROMOTING TOURISM (56-60% OF VTM’S REVENUE)
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OPTIMISING COMMERCIAL USE OF FACILITIES
APPROACH TO OWN SITUATION
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HAVE IMMIGRATED TO “NEW” SOUTH AFRICA
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THE PAST IS OUR SOURCE OF INSPIRATION, NOT OUR DESTINATION
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USE PAST TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE PRESENT, TO BE ABLE TO HELP
BUILD A BETTER FUTURE FOR ALL IN SOUTH AFRICA
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CONSTRUCTIVE ENGAGEMENT AND SUPPORT TO GOVERNMENT
INSTITUTIONS
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EMBRACE AND PROMOTE NATION BUILDING, RECONCILIATION AND “NEW”
NATIONAL SYMBOLS, DESPITE CHALLENGES IN THIS REGARD
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BE A POSITIVE CHANGE AGENT AND BRIDGE BUILDER IN OWN COMMUNITY
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EXPAND BUT DO NOT RECONSTRUCT NOR CRIMINALISE HISTORY, TOTAL
HISTORY AND -HERITAGE IMPORTANT
SOME OF THE MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS PAST 12
YEARS
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IMAGE AND LEGITIMACY GREATLY IMPROVED
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CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE/BENCHMARK AS TOURIST DESTINATION AND
HERITAGE INSTITUTION
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JOB CREATOR: FROM 27 TO 100 EMPLOYEES
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OPERATIONAL BUDGET UP FROM R2 MILLION PA TO R14 MILLION PA
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ESTABLISHED HERITAGE FOUNDATION AND RESEARCH TRUST IN 2002 AND
MANAGED THEM UNTIL 1 AUG 2011 ON OVER AND ABOVE BASIS
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TOGETHER WITH HERITAGE FOUNDATION, TOOK OVER VARIOUS HERITAGE
SITES
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MEMORANDUM OF CO-OPERATION WITH FREEDOM PARK; VTM READY
SINCE APRIL 2010 TO OPEN INTERCONNECTING ACCESS ROAD BETWEEN
TWO SITES, FREEDOM PARK NOT YET
HISTORY OF THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION AND
RESEARCH TRUST
• ESTABLISHED IN 2002 TO HELP TAKE CARE OF ENDANGERED
HERITAGE RESOURCES (INCLUSIVE APPROACH); COMPANY
NOT FOR GAIN, NO GOVERNMENT FUNDING
• THREE MAJOR TASKS:
o ESTABLISH ON NATIONAL BASIS
o RAISE FUNDS FOR AND CONSTRUCT HERITAGE CENTRE AT
VTM HERITAGE SITE (R13 MILLION)
o RAISE FUNDS FOR AND ESTABLISH RESEARCH TRUST
AREAS UNDER CONTROL OF THE VTM
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VOORTREKKER MONUMENT (PTA)
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FORT SCHANSKOP (PTA)
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BLOOD RIVER (KZN)
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KERKENBERG (FS)
AREAS UNDER CONTROL OF THE HERITAGE
FOUNDATION
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BLOUKRANS (KZN)
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MAFIKENG CONCENTRATION CAMP CEMETERIES (NW)
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DANIE THERON PLINTH (NW/GAUTENG)
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ORANGE RIVER CAMP SITES (NC)
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LOUIS TREGARDT MEMORIAL GARDEN (MAPUTO) – THROUGH
LOUIS TRICHARDT ASSOCIATION (NON-DECLARED INSTITUTION)
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PRES PAUL KRUGER RESIDENCE, BOEKENHOUTFONTEIN (NW) –
THROUGH PRES PAUL KRUGER TRUST (NON DECLARED
INSTITUTION)
HERITAGE FOUNDATION’S SUPPORT TO
GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS AS SERVICE PROVIDER
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FSDSACR – RAISE R3 MILLION FOR AND IMPLEMENT SHORT TERM
INTERVENTION PLAN AT NASIONALE AFRIKAANSE LETTERKUNDE
MUSEUM EN NAVORSINGSENTRUM (PHASE 1 SUCCESSFULL, PHASE
2 BEING CONSIDERED)
URGENT OUTSTANDING MATTER: PROPOSAL THAT NALN BE
REPOSITIONED AT NATIONAL LEVEL UNDER DAC
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SAHRA: MOU RE CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF ALL CONCENTRATION CAMP CEMETERIES, BURGHER AND POW GRAVES AND
CERTAIN SA ABW BATTLE FIELDS
(FUNDED BY DAC THROUGH SAHRA)
SUPPORT (CONTND)
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VOORTREKKER MUSEUM, PIETERMARITZBURG: SUPPLY THREE
MEMBERS TO SERVE ON PRESENT BOARD OF MUSEUM
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SESOTHO LANGUAGE MUSEUM: VARIOUS FORMS OF SUPPORT
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PROVIDE TRAINING FOR CERTAIN STAFF MEMBERS OF APARTHEID
AND HECTOR PETERSON MUSEUMS
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AGREED TO ACT AS MENTOR FOR GRIQUA COMMUNITY IRO THEIR
LOTTO FUND APPLICATION
DETAILS OF INSTITUTIONS NOT DECLARED IN
TERMS OF THE CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS ACT
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VOORTREKKER MONUMENT (EXPECTED AT LEAST R1,9 MILLION IN JULY
2011)
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VEGKOP MUSEUM, NEAR HEILBRON (LAST GRANT R50 000 PA, 5 YRS
OUTSTANDING)
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HUGENOT MONUMENT, FRANSCHHOEK (RECEIVED R110 000 IN 2010, 2
OTHER YRS OUTSTANDING)
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LOUIS TRICHARDT ASSOCIATION (RECEIVED R31 000 PA IN 2010)
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1820 SETTLERS FOUNDATION, GRAHAMSTOWN (EXPECTED R2,8 MILLION IN
2011, NOT YET FORMALLY INFORMED ABOUT NEW SITUATION)
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BIEN DONNé CULTURAL CENTRE, WESTERN CAPE (AMOUNT UNKNOWN, HAS
NOT RECEIVED ANYTHING FOR PAST FIVE YRS)
VOORTREKKER MONUMENT HAS BEEN RECEIVING
FOLLOWING AMOUNTS SINCE 1993
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1993-2002: R 425 000 PA
2003 : R 1 304 000,00 (INCREASED BY DR BEN NGUBANE)
2004 : R 1 356 000,00
2005 : R 1 414 000,00
2006 : R 1 411 926,00
2007 : R 1 556 000,00
2008 : R 1 634 000,00
2009 : R 1 733 000,00
2010 : R 1 853 500,00
2011: R 1 000 000, 00 (!)
• NO GRANT FOR BLOOD RIVER
EFFECT OF GRANT DECISION RE VOORTREKKER
MONUMENT IN PARTICULAR
• CUT BACK ON CERTAIN ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND
ACTIVITIES
• STOP/SUSPEND ESSENTIAL REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE
PROJECTS, ALREADY LONG OVERDUE AND IN CRITICAL
STATE
• MORATORIUM ON NEW APPOINTMENTS TO REPLACE
NATURAL ATTRITION (ALREADY CRITICAL SITUATION)
• CONSIDER RETRECHMENTS AS LAST RESORT (POOREST
WOULD BE MOST AFFECTED)
RECOMMENDED SOLUTION: IMMEDIATE SHORT
TERM
– RE-INSTATE FULL GRANT TO VOORTREKKER MONUMENT AND
AS FAR AS POSSIBLE TO OTHER NON-DECLARED INSTITUTIONS
UNTIL MORE PERMANENT SOLUTION COULD BE FOUND (WRITE
OFF OLDER OUTSTANDING AMOUNTS)
– IMMEDIATELY START WITH NEGOTIATIONS WITH DAC RE
POSSIBLE DECLARATION OF HERITAGE FOUNDATION AS
CULTURAL INSTITUTION AND HOW OTHER NON-DECLARED
INSTITUTIONS COULD BE ACCOMMODATED IN THE PROCESS.
– SUBMIT NEGOTIATED PROPOSALS TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION AND OTHER NON-DECLARED
INSTITUTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION
IF AND AS SOON AS HERITAGE FOUNDATION IS
DECLARED AS A CULTURAL INSTITUTION:
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IMPLEMENT NEW FUNDING STRUCTURE BASED ON ANNUAL GRANT TO THE
HERITAGE FOUNDATION.
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OTHER RELEVANT NON-DECLARED INSTITUTIONS TO BE CATERED FOR AS
PART OF HERITAGE FOUNDATION’S BUDGET.
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CONSIDER OTHER INSTITUTIONS THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE PUT UNDER
CONTROL OF DECLARED HERITAGE FOUNDATION (IF ADEQUATELY
EMPOWERED TO DO SO, COULD EVEN PLAY ROLE AS FAR AS NALN IS
CONCERNED).
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CEASE ANNUAL GRANT TO VOORTREKKER MONUMENT UNLESS MONUMENT
ALSO OPTS FOR DECLARATION AS CULTURAL INSTITUTION (UNLIKELY)
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CONSIDER SITUATION OF 1820 SETTLERS FOUNDATION SEPERATELY