Kimberley residents and Sol Plaatje University students have taken hands to clean up the Sol Plaatje monument, chosen for its significance in South African history, for Heritage Month. 

“Sol Plaatje, a pioneering intellectual and one of the founding members of the African National Congress, made major contributions to the struggle for justice and equality in South Africa,” said Sol Plaatje academic facilitator Curtis Jeaven.

“As a result, we felt that ensuring the upkeep of this monument was an essential task, particularly during Heritage Month when it attracts more attention from the public.”

Participants in the clean-up around the monument. Picture: Facebook

The clean-up consisted of students from Sol Plaatje, some members of the community and members of the Northern Cape Heritage Pioneers NPO.

“There was a strong sense of pride and accomplishment among everyone involved. Many of the students expressed that participating in the clean-up allowed them to feel more connected to the region’s history, while also making a tangible difference,” said Jeaven.

“For me, it was a powerful reminder of the importance of grassroots efforts in heritage conservation. It felt fulfilling to see the collective impact of our work, especially as our organisation’s first project, and to witness the enthusiasm of the students as they engaged in preserving our cultural legacy.”

Sol Plaatje academic facilitator Curtis Jeaven at the clean-up. Picture: Facebook

This clean-up and educational workshop project, themed “Remembering Our Neglected Past”, was the first project undertaken by the Northern Cape Heritage Pioneers NPO, a recently founded non-profit organisation aimed at improving the heritage sector.

“The aim was to preserve and promote the Sol Plaatje monument but also to foster a sense of ownership and pride in local heritage among students and the broader community. Through this project, we sought to inspire others to act in preserving our shared cultural heritage.”

Although this was a one-day event the organization plans to do more for the heritage sites in and around the city not just for heritage month but throughout the year, and hopefully in the future expand into sourcing funding to employ students and community members in short term job opportunities.

OFM News/Casey-Lee Anthony mvh