Durban Holocaust Centre opens its doors

South Africa's second holocaust centre became operational yesterday

The Durban Holocaust Centre, housed at the Durban Jewish Centre in Old Fort Road, opened its doors to the public yesterday. It is South Africa's second holocaust centre. The first was opened in Cape Town.

The centre, which focuses on educating learners about the holocaust, also seeks to provide curriculum support material and daily school group tours. Other human rights abuses and contemporary genocide will also feature in the curriculum.

The horrors of the holocaust, which cost six million Jews their lives, can now be viewed by the public and is expected to become a "must-see" local tourist attraction. The history of the holocaust, which has many parallels with South Africa's apartheid era, begins with outlining details about racism, then anti-semitism.

The history of the holocaust and of Nazi Germany is now also part of the school curriculum and it is expected that about 700 pupils a month will visit the centre.

The centre cost more than R1 million and was financed by benefactors from the local Jewish community, There are plans to build two more centres in Johannesburg and Tshwane.