Hostel 33 declared Provincial Heritage Site | Western Cape Government

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Hostel 33 declared Provincial Heritage Site

25 September 2018

On Monday, 24 September 2018, Western Cape Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Anroux Marais, together with Heritage Western Cape, announced Hostel 33 at the Lwandle Migrant Labour Museum as a Provincial Heritage Site.

The Lwandle Migrant Labour Museum is the only museum dedicated to the memorialization of migrant labour in the country. Initially the intention of the museum and its chief exhibit Hostel 33, was to preserve, restore and interpret the only remaining migrant labour hostel in Lwandle - Hostel 33. Hostel 33 was restored to be an integral part of the Lwandle Migrant Labour Museum and its activities - as a site for visitors, as an educational resource and as memorial to the migrant labour system which underpinned the existence of Lwandle.

Opening the event, Heritage Western Cape CEO Dr. Mxolisi Dlamuka emphasized the importance of the museum of telling the history of the people who were subjected to evictions in the 1950s and 1960s. “The Western Cape Government celebrates diversity. We believe that different cultures unite to create a better province.” he said.

Museum board member Siboniwe Tyeku said that, since its inception 18 years ago, the museum has become a very important part of the community. She also encouraged the youth of the community to learn about the history of the place where they stay.

Minister Marais thanked all the role-players who were involved in ensuring the declaration of the site: “Together with the expert assistance of Heritage Western Cape and the City of Cape Town’s facilitation, the historical significance and the representative and symbolic nature of Hostel 33 is now officially acknowledged and will rightfully be promoted in the public domain as a Provincial Heritage Site.” she said.  

The Provincial Heritage Site Status will communicate clearly and definitively that the heritage community and agencies consider this site to be a major and important heritage asset that warrants serious and focused conservation attention from all parties. Provincial Heritage Site Status immediately provides the full protection to these sites described in the National Heritage Resources Act (1999).

Media Enquiries: 

Dr Tania Colyn
Head of Communication Service
Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport
Tel: 021 483 9877 / 076 093 4913
E-mail: Tania.Colyn@westerncape.gov.za