• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us

For all official information and updates regarding COVID-19, visit the South African Department of Health's website at www.sacoronavirus.co.za

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
Home Sci-tech

Residents concerned about delays in Taung Skull World Heritage Site

12 December 2017, 2:12 PM  |
Zebilon Maine Zebilon Maine |  @SABCNews
It is reported that the more than two million year old skull belonging to a child in Taung was discovered in 1924 in the lime mine vicinity

It is reported that the more than two million year old skull belonging to a child in Taung was discovered in 1924 in the lime mine vicinity

Image: sabc

It is reported that the more than two million year old skull belonging to a child in Taung was discovered in 1924 in the lime mine vicinity

Residents of Buxton Village near Taung in the North West are in the dark about the slow progress on the upgrade of the Taung Skull World Heritage Site which was included in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site listing.

It is reported that the more than two million year old skull belonging to a child in Taung was discovered in 1924 in the lime mine vicinity. The local residents say the changing of contractors at the site is causing the delay in the upgrading of the heritage site.

The North West Department of Rural, Environment and Agricultural Development few years ago undertook an initiative to develop the site after it was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 2015.

Some of the construction that are taking place to develop the area included roads, fencing and a power substation.

Research will be conducted around  trails, signage and stone miner cottages amongst others.

Some of the unemployed youth say since some of the projects have been halted, unemployment in their area has increased.

“Since the project has stopped, we no longer have a source of income to pay the important things like school fees and insurance policies. We no longer have income here in Buxton, I just want the government to intervene, maybe we can be able to work and take care of our families.”

SABC spoke to some of the community members who are calling the provincial government to speed-up the long overdue project.

“The Taung Skull could have been something that we benefit from as the community of Buxton but now there is nothing going on here and the projects are coming in and out without completion. The government must inject money to complete the project. Our wish is to see that skull returned to its place so that the tourist could come and see that we have a heritage,” community members explained.

Local Kgosi Letsogile Lekwene in Buxton village says, there is lack of communication between the contractor and the community.

“The problem is communication, when the project stopped,  the site management did not communicate, when there is a problem with the project especially the leadership in Buxton, they do not even explain to the workers and the CLO. They only communicate when the project comes in and when they look for labourers.”

North West Department of Rural Environmental and Agricultural Development say, the increasing number of constructions on site and the low budget allocation every year is causing the delay.

The estimated budget for the financial year 2016/07 is R33 million.

Chief Director for Environmental Affairs, Lebo Diale says another problem is that some of the contractors did not have the capacity to do certain developments.

“In terms of making sure the main challenges do not get repeated we have appointed the engineering firm which is working very closely with the contractors. Instances where you will find the contractor of the foreman not being able to interpret certain things like the drawings, the engineer will assist. There are some buildings that we are still earmarking, should there be funding available we will continue with them.”

The department is optimistic that most of the projects will be completed next year.

Meanwhile negotiations to return the skull to its original place between the provincial government and Wits University will resume soon.

Share article
Tags: North WestTaungWits UniversityUNESCOBuxtonTaung Skull World Heritage SiteKgosi Letsogile LekweneLebo Diale
Previous Post

Universal equal human rights not yet achieved: UN

Next Post

Liquor outlets in Gauteng won’t extend hours during ANC conference

Related Posts

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) treatment pill Paxlovid is seen in a box, at Misericordia hospital in Grosseto, Italy, February 8, 2022.

U.S. doctors reconsider Pfizer’s Paxlovid for lower-risk COVID patients

29 May 2022, 3:47 AM

CORONAVIRUS: Your daily update

28 May 2022, 9:23 PM
This is an abstract representation of the virus.

DRC records over 1200 cases of monkeypox, with 58 deaths since beginning of 2022

28 May 2022, 4:32 PM
A woman holds a mock-up vial labeled "Monkeypox vaccine" and medical syringe in this illustration taken, May 25, 2022.

Monkeypox can be contained if we act now, WHO says

28 May 2022, 3:43 AM
An employee of the vaccine company Bavarian Nordic works in a laboratory of the company in Martinsried near Munich, Germany, May 24, 2022

EU in talks for common purchase of vaccine, antiviral against monkeypox

27 May 2022, 5:45 PM
A senior receives the vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as Quebec begins vaccinations for seniors over 85 years old in a clinic in Laval, Quebec, Canada February 25, 2021.

Dhlomo attributes decrease in vaccine hesitancy to improved messaging in encouraging people to get vaccinated

27 May 2022, 9:24 AM
Next Post
The alcohol ban comes amid the new adjusted alert level four restrictions, announced by the President.

Liquor outlets in Gauteng won't extend hours during ANC conference

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • EMS says fire at Bree Street Taxi Rank in Johannesburg has been extinguished
  • The public has until 18 May to make submissions on Icasa’s regulations for extension of expiry period for data, airtime
  • ANC NEC expected to hold a special meeting on Sunday
  • Eastern Cape flood victims plead for support as access to food, services remains difficult
  • Amathole Regional Secretary elated to have corruption charges against him dropped
  • Caster Semenya offered to show her body to officials to prove she was female
  • Three Heidelberg brothers die after allegedly consuming energy drink given by their father
  • Gunman kills 18 children, 3 adults in Texas elementary school – Officials
  • Tributes pour in for SA actor Jamie Bartlett
  • Multiple car crash on the N3 in Pietermaritzburg leaves 16 dead, others injured
  • SA may be home to world’s oldest person
  • Cosatu’s May Day celebrations descended into chaos, proceedings halted
  • Suspect arrested in connection with Hillary Gardee’s murder
  • [WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT] Nigerian student beaten, burned to death over ‘blasphemous’ text messages
  • Meyiwa family breaks silence over Advocate Teffo’s arrest

LATEST

Stolen copper cables recovered in a separate incident.
  • South Africa

Three suspects arrested in a relation to copper theft criminal network


Members of South Africa's National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), who have been on strike at Sibanye-Stillwater's gold operations since March 9, hold placards as they stage a protest outside the company's Kloof Mine, in the southwest of Johannesburg, South Africa, March 25, 2022.
  • Business

Wage talks between Sibanye Stillwater, unions to continue next week


Fenty Beauty model
  • Lifestyle

Rihanna brings Fenty Beauty to Africa


Gauteng Premier David Makhura speaking at an event, March 29, 2017.
  • Politics

Makhura calls out delegates’ behaviour for shaming ANC


Real Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti.
  • Sport

Ancelotti’s calm ‘winning culture’ delivers for Real Madrid again


Russian servicemen drive tanks during military exercises in the Leningrad Region, Russia.
  • World

Russia advances in east; Ukraine calls for longer-range weapons


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2022

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2022

Previous Universal equal human rights not yet achieved: UN
Next Liquor outlets in Gauteng won’t extend hours during ANC conference