By Anita Dangazele
- Nelson Mandela Bay rushes to fix Langa memorial before Human Rights Day visit by deputy president and arts minister.
- Angry residents say the site is always neglected until VIPs arrive and the cameras are rolling.
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is rushing to clean up the Langa memorial site in Kariega ahead of Human Rights Day on Friday.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile and Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie are expected to visit the site to mark 40 years since the Langa Massacre, where police shot and killed at least 20 mourners during a funeral march on 21 March 1985.
Now, the town looks like a construction site. Workers are cutting grass, patching potholes and fixing the vandalised memorial.
But locals aren’t impressed. They believe the last-minute repairs are only being done because of the VIP visitors.
“We all know the municipality will leave it to rot again. They only fix it when big politicians come around,” said one resident.
“This is a waste of taxpayers’ money. They fix it every few years for events, then forget about it.”
Another resident said part of the cemetery fence was damaged during floods last June and nothing was done until now.
“It’s been nearly a year. But suddenly they’re rushing to fix the fence because Human Rights Day is coming.”
Last year, some families of the massacre victims boycotted the event, saying the site had been badly neglected.
They questioned why the government was spending money on ceremonies instead of regular upkeep.
This year’s official event will be held at Derrick Ferreira Stadium in Rosedale. The municipality has set aside R5 million for upgrades to the memorial.
Pictured above: Nelson Mandela Bay workers rushing to restore the vandalised Langa memorial site in Kariega.
Image source: NMBM Communications
