The buildings were vandalised and partly burnt during violent protests in 2018, when residents were calling for the removal of then premier Supra Mahumapelo, citing lack of service delivery.
“The head office’s estimate is sitting at R50 million subject to appointment of consultancy to give a detailed bill of quantities, which will give us the exact amount. The regional centre, we have, to date spent around R6 million. If you take the two estimated amounts it takes you to R59 million, but just note that it is just an estimation. The figure may decrease significantly,” says Mmabana Mahikeng Centre’s Acting CEO, Itumeleng Mogorosi.
In the video below, Mmabana Arts Centre in the North West on the brink of collapse:
The closure of the centre shattered the dreams of many aspiring young artists and sports people.
Director for performing arts Tshepiso Konopi explains: “There has been a significant impact on our production. Annually we produce close to 200 artists in the performing arts sector. We produce a lot of sporting artists, who go overseas and compete. We lost out on a lot of competitions where we could have gone to Japan and China with Karate, gymnastics event during the COVID times.”
One of the affected drama students, Boitumelo Thabe, says because of the 2018 protests, his dreams were put on hold. Now, with the centre reopening, Thabe is hoping to complete his studies soon.
“The protest thing that happened around the North West ruined everything. I was now supposed to be a qualified actor. So now, I am happy because I can there’s progress and I can finish my qualifications and do what I want to do.”
The North West MEC for Arts, Culture Sport and Recreation, Virgina Tlhapi is still upset about the damage to property caused by the protesters.
“They burn these facilities, but it’s their facilities. It then says we must go back again and budget for something we had already budgeted for. As a government, we are struggling to go back to the things we’ve already built. We request our communities not to be angry for the facilities but be angry at the systems in place,” she says.
Mmabana Mahikeng will officially resume with its programmes next year.
