PROGRESS REPORT

A. NATIONAL CULTURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
EXHIBITIONS
- The research for a new permanent exhibition: The history of Tshwane [from geological times to today] is completed and the tentative lay-out, designed by the artist. Finalization of the Transformation of Exhibition budget allocation is awaited.
- The Museum facilitated the storage and inventory of the Mandela gift collection before it was sent to Umtata.

EDUCATION
- The number of educational visitors for the youth market has risen with 44.6% in 2004 compared to 2003.

– Marketing:
NFI Museums promote their educational programmes (Grade 4 - 6) in the text books of Nasou via Afrika for fee. The text books are in demand in Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West Province.

– Educational resources:
The Embassy of the Netherlands and Imbali Visual Literacy have funded and assisted with two
large full colour posters and an educational resource booklet as resources which support educators when visiting the exhibition Group Portrait of SA Families.

OTHER
– The GaMohle [old Bantu Comissioners building next to Kruger Museum] oral history Project, an initiative from DAC's Transformation Budget, was completed and a report submitted.
- 114 Culture Resource Management projects were completed and reports submitted to clients. This was a great source of income for the Museum.
– Two journals: Research by the NCHM were published by the Research Department.

B. TRANSVAAL MUSEUM
RESEARCH
- Published 14 peer-reviewed scientific articles.
– Published 5 popular articles

PUBLIC PROGRAMMES AND EXHIBITIONS
- 41 434 patrons
– 11 Studiosus tour groups from Germany
– International Museum 5 Day 18 May 2004: Total 806 (506 adults and 297 children) patrons received
free entrance on 18, 22 & 23 May 2004 to the Transvaal Museum
- Experiential training: 7 TUT Tourism & Hospitality students
- Experiential training of 4 learners: 1x Prestige College, 3x Cornerstone College
– Annuals of the Transvaal Museum volume 41
– Reprint of Swartkrans Monograph with external funding (1 000 copies)

C. KRUGER MUSEUM
– The Kruger Museum is one of the major tourism attractions in Pretoria. Adjacent to this heritage site is the former Bantu Commissioner’s Office (BCO) building, better known to the township of Tshwane as Gamohle - the beautiful place. The NFI is in the process to develop this musuem complex as a livingheritage site for tourism and education as well as for the socio-economic benefit of the local communities.

ORAL HISTORY RESEARCH PROJECTS
– Phase one of the gaMohle Oral History Research Project, partially funded by the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) Transformation Budget, was launched I June 2004 and finalised in march 2005. The objective was to pass laws and influx control measures at gaMohle. 39 Narratrors of the township around Tshwane participated in the project and were entertained at gaMohle were they shared the experiences of the past.
– An outcome of the project was tha capacity building of NFI staff as well as the Training of six students of the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) as Oral History Research Practitioners.
– Phase two of the gaMohle Oral History Project, the oral testimonies will be re-worked into a script and into a play "gaMohle on stage: Yersterday and Today". The aim of the project is to promote culture and living heritage through using theatre as a means of education and to create jobs in the communities with regard to performing arts. If the application for funding by the Arts and Culture Trust is successful the project will be scheduled for September 2005 and August 2006.

CAPACITY BUILDING AND FMPLOYMFNT OF TUT STUDENTS
– During 2004 and 2005 32 students of Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) completed their six month traineeship at the Kruger-gaMohle heritage Site to obtain the National Diploma in Tourism Management. The NFI employed six students as temporary staff to assist with the Oral history Research projects , education and tourism marketing.

D. SANMMH
BUILDING OPERATIONS
- The new building housing the library, the archives, as well as the new exhibition halls containing the Aircraft and Armoured Fighting Vehicle collections was finally completed to such an extent that the exhibits could be moved into the halls and the library could be moved to its new quarters. The move of the library collection containing over 7 000 books took nearly a month but at least this collection, including some very rare historical works, is now being preserved In fire proof quarters.
- The new workshop with separate areas for restoration of vehicles, carpentry, welding and other technical work was also completed. The government Occupational Safety and Health regulations can now be complied with.
- Although visitor figures dropped during the extensive building operations the Museum managed to stay open for the entire time and despite the trenches, jackhammers and rubble the rental from the conference centre increased by almost ten per cent.
- The site has still not been completely handed over as the alarm system, air-conditioning flits and some of the paving that was damaged during the building operations still have to be repaired.

EVENTS
- 9th May, International Museums Day, was celebrated in a combined effort with the SANDF for the 60th Anniversary of VE Day. This was attended by over 400 veterans and included General Matanzima, the British Military Attache, who carried greetings from Her Majesty the Queen of England, members of the Johannesburg City Council and several other ranked members of the Defence Force.

()BSTACLES
- The real obstacle to progress and upliftment of the Museum was the arrest on 13th January of the Director and two other staff members charged with possession of stolen property. The Museum had the Ratel prototype, the Ferret and two Elands confiscated, which to date have not been returned. Investigations into the matter still continue.
- The ensuing press furore has undoubtedly caused the Director and staff in a bad light and caused strain on the usual affable relationship the Museum has had with the Defence Force since its opening in 1947. The matter is still being discussed between the NFI. SAPS and SANDF.

E. TSWAING MUSEUM
NEW BUILDING
– The new Visitor centre by the Department of Public Works is almost complete. The contractor is expected to hand over by the end of September 2005.

RDP PROJECTS
- Four (4) teams of fifteen people each, male and female (predominantly female) currently on a project in Tswaing removing alien invasive plants. This community project is spearheaded and funded by Working for Water.
– Sixty (60) people from the local communities were trained for fire fighting. The people are at the moment on a project in Tswaing clearing the fence in and outside the reserve.

INTERNSHIP STUDENTS
– Two students from Tshwane University for Technology are on internship at Tswaing. The students will be here for a period of six months from the 1 August 2005.

F. SAMMY MARKS MUSEUM
CONSERVATION
– The Museum’s collections and the house/farm belonged to Sammy Marks, South Africa’s first industrialist and entrepreneur.
– Renovation and restoration of the house had commenced at the cost of R2,2million.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
– Various activities were held at the Museum in conjunction with the community: indoor music concerts, picnic concerts, birds walks, children parties, wine tasting evenings and the annual Country Market with entrepreneurs exhibiting their crafts.
– The collections were utilised by the community. Heritage students from George State University visited the Museum to study the Museum’s site. The Ceramic Forum of the University of Pretoria studied the ceramic collection. Photographic students used the site for assignments and students in the tourism field visited the Museum for training.

G. WPAM
– The open air Museum consist of a farmyard with two house Museums, kraals, outbuildings, indigenous farm animals like Nguni, a Ndebele homestead and a formal exhibition of the history of South African Agriculture, farm animals implements and animals drawn vehicles. The Museum also has picnic braai, camping facilities, a restaurant, shop and accommodation available.