IN CONVERSATION WITH LEANNE DE JAGER, DA Gauteng spokesperson for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation.

Concerns have been raised over the condition and prolonged non- operational status of the Women’s Living Heritage Monument in Tshwane, a project intended to honour women who played a significant role in South Africa’s struggle against apartheid. According to Democratic Alliance Gauteng MPL and spokesperson for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Leanne De Jager, the facility remains closed to the public despite having been officially unveiled in 2016 and declared structurally complete in 2018. The project was originally intended to serve both as a heritage site and a training and development centre, featuring commemorative statues of notable anti- apartheid activists. It is reported that more than R280 million was spent on construction and operational costs by the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, with an additional R14.5 million allocated to repair poor workmanship identified in later phases of the project. Despite this significant investment, parts of the facility have reportedly deteriorated, including visible structural wear such as peeling paint and crumbling materials. Oversight inspections by the Gauteng Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation have also highlighted ongoing access restrictions to the site, with multiple visits by the Democratic Alliance reportedly denied. In addition, safety concerns have been raised, including a fire hazard designation by the City of Tshwane due to non- compliance with safety standards, which has contributed to delays in full commissioning. Although authorities indicated that certain required remedial actions, such as relocating a substation, have been completed, the site remains non-operational. Critics argue that the continued inactivity represents poor governance and wasted public investment, with calls for urgent intervention to complete and open the monument for public use and economic benefit. Instagram · Twitter