Plans are in place to restore the women’s prison in Kroonstad in the Free State where scores of women who participated in the anti-pass campaign of 1913 were imprisoned.
Deceased Struggle stalwarts Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Albertina Sisulu and Dorothy Nyembe are some of high-profile political prisoners that were detained at the prison.
Mama Winnie spent six months there in 1973. She was convicted for meeting with a banned photographer Peter Magubane.
An application has been made to declare the facility a national heritage site.
“The prison in Kroonstad where Mama Winnie was detained – it’s in the process of being declared a national heritage site. There’s a process that we are following. An application has been lodged already. We are already still waiting for the approval of it,” says Mathabo Leeto – Free State Arts and Culture MEC.
“This place now is under private ownership. We are still going to engage with the owner of the place together with the provincial government so that we can turn the place to heritage site, ” says Billy Kokami, Moqhaka Local Municipality Councillor.
The new owner is open to negotiations and welcomes plans to make the structure a tourist attraction.
“It is a heritage site going back to what it was and what it is now and I would like to see it developed and make it pride again for all the people,” says Dries Momberg, owner of Kroonstad Old Women Prison.
There have been mixed reactions from the community.
The Free State government says it regrettable that the heritage declaration of the prison would happen when Mama Winnie has already departed.
Watch videos below:
