Arts body wants to work with residents to reopen museum

THE Nelson Mandela Bay Arts Council (NMBAC) wants to work with residents in the Red Location Museum area in New Brighton to resolve their issues – and ultimately reopen the tourist attraction.

It is almost a year since the museum was closed by disgruntled residents, who demanded better houses.

A building project has been approved for the area but the residents are complaining that the 40m² houses they will be getting are smaller than the normal 48m² houses.

The closure of the museum will also delay the building of a R581-million theatre.

Speaking outside the museum yesterday, NMBAC chairman Monde Ngonyama said the council wanted to work with residents.

"We are a week away from a full year since the Red Location Museum was closed in October 2013.

"This is a sad indictment for a country that got its liberation settlement through negotiations," Ngonyama said. - Yoliswa Sobuwa