By OBAKENG MAJE 

4 August 2024- Forum 4 Service Delivery (F4SD) has joined the residents of Taung, where the fossilised skull of a child was discovered by unsuspecting workers in a limestone quarry in Buxton village in 1924, who are calling for the return of the skull. Taung Skull or Taung Child, which was later named Australopithecus africanus, was the first hominid fossil to be discovered on the African continent.

Taung Skull was formally discovered and studied by Raymond Dart. The skull was taken to the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg for research purposes, where it is currently located. F4SD councillor in the Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM), Mika Moeti said even though the area was declared as a World Heritage Site, no activities are taking place there. 

Moeti further said they are worried that UNESCO might strip the area off its World Heritage Site status due to non-compliance and lack of development. He added that he picked up that the project at Taung World Heritage Site is at 40% for completion. 

“Since 1994, the government has been allocating a budget to this project without any progress. Unfortunately, the residents of Taung do not want to pronounce themselves on this. What is worrisome is that the Taung Skull is actually benefiting the people of Gauteng. I am raising this matter because we cannot have a local authority, which is the municipality that does not pronounce itself on the Taung Skull World Heritage Site. 

“We call on the North West Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT) to refurnish them with a progress report. The department must ensure that it completes the project so that the Taung Skull can return to its origin,” said Moeti. 

Meanwhile, the North West MEC for DEDECT, Bitsa Lenkopane said: “This is a project that started a long time ago. We have already spent close to R500 million on that project. However, we can confirm that the heritage centre, museum, multi-purpose, restaurant and power house are at 90% to be complete. I think soon, the North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi will be handing over the site to the community of Taung. 

“Around the same development, we also have the project that we have kick-started for 2024/2025 financial year, where amongst others, include 40 beds, middle cost hotel and 150 seater conference around Thomeng road. The estimated budget for this development is R400 million and R150m. We are going to hand over the project at the end of September.

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