Heritage Cases

The delegation met the South African High Commissioner in Botswana on the 16th October 2018, the delegation was led by the Director General (DG) Mr Vusi Mkhize of the DAC. The high commissioner Ms Bulelwa Kiva welcomed South African delegation and expressed gratitude for the project that will be undertaken in Botswana. She further extended her support and emphasized that it is imperative that South African government implements the construction of the two monuments in Gaborone and Lobatse. The DAC delegation then proceeded to meet their counter parts at Botswana Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation. On the 17th November the South African delegation visited the Botswana national museum, and the DDG of Arts and Culture Mr Ndima made a presentation on the concept document and implementation plan. The Botswana Director of the national Museum was delighted about the concept document, he then introduced his team and critical stakeholders like the University of Botswana. The Fish Keitseng trust and University of Botswana was also afforded an opportunity to present information pertaining to the role of Botswana in the South African liberation struggle. There were various engagements which were positive towards the implementation of the concept document. The delegation then proceeded to a site visit to extension 14 cemetery led by Botswana National Museum. The delegation stopped at a mass grave of the victims of 1985 raid. Department of Military Veterans and the African National Congress raised concerns about civilians who were buried in a site that was apparently granted to the ANC for victims of 1985 raid. Mr fish Keitseng is also buried at the site and it was alleged that the trust has a permit of the site. The matter was rather contradictory as with South African Heritage legislation permits were granted for burials not to trusts. It was then decided that the matter be investigated in order to understand the Botswana heritage legislation on management of burial grounds and graves. It was further discovered that the graves of the 14 June 1985 raid ANC cadres were constructed by North West Department of Cultural Affairs and Traditional Affairs(CATA) without SAHRA’s involvement. These are the graves of national significance that SAHRA was supposed to be notified merely because SAHRA’s is the only heritage body that can perform functions of a heritage outside the borders of South Africa. The graves are well conserved except outcry about inscriptions and an unknown grave inside the fence of the 1985 massacre graves. The portion of land at grave site belongs to South Africa and the site is declared under the Botswana heritage act which gives individual ownership not national status ownership. Department of Military Veteran together with the African National Congress want the grave site to be declared by the South African National Heritage Resources Act no 25 of 1999 for formal protection. The rationale is that Botswana heritage act allows individuals to take decisions about the national assets without consulting other stakeholders. For example, the 1985 raid graves are buried with other cadres who were not part of the raid such as Mr Fish Keitseng and Mr Bethuel Lesiea.