By OBAKENG MAJE
13 July 2025- The towering bronze statue of the former President, Jacob Zuma, that has cost taxpayers R1.8 million, has now been abandoned and turned into shabbiness. The monument in Groot Marico was erected in quest of honouring Zuma, who was captured by the apartheid regime at the site alongside with his Umkhonto weSizwe guerrillas, while trying to skip the country to Botswana.
The much-anticipated splendour unveiling took place back in 2017 and it was said to form part of the Liberation Heritage Route.
One of tourism operators in the North West, Kagiso Legobe said it is sad to see most of the tourism sites that offer a glimpse into the country’s past and often carrying a clandestine history are being abandoned. Legobe said he is not surprised to see Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma Monument in Groot Marico being abandoned by the North West Provincial Government like other attraction sites.
“The sad part is that the area was an information centre before the department took over. They have erected a statue there and abandoned it. What is surprising is that the monument falls under the North West Department of Arts, Sports, Culture and Recreation, which is not its obligation when it comes to tourism and that is why they do not care.
“If the monument was under the North West Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), it would have been better. Why the North West Provincial Government cannot put an information centre for tourism there like they did in Rustenburg and Potchefstroom?” he asked.
Legobe further calls on the North West Provincial Government to maintain the attraction centre just like they do in other areas. He added that it is bizarre to see millions of rands being spent and dumped just like that without any vision.
“The area has turned into a forest. It is wretched because the Ramotshere-Moiloa area is significant when it comes to tourism. The challenge is some properties will be owned by the municipalities, but being run by various departments. Imagine if the area was placed under the DEDECT’s care. It would have been well-maintained and used to generate income and boost the economy.
“If the department cannot run the place, let them partner with private partners. You will never ever see this kind of ignorance when you go to Potchefstroom or Klerksdorp, where tourism buildings fall under municipality,” said Legobe.
In 2021, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL), Winston Rabotapi said: “Zuma monument in Groot Marico is a symbol of wasteful expenditure and a reminder of state capture. We will write to the North West MEC for Arts, Sports, Culture and Recreation, Virginia Tlhapi, to suggest that the Zuma Liberation Route and museum in Groot Marico be turned into a cultural community centre.
“During a recent oversight inspection to this Capture Site of former President Jacob Zuma in Groot Marico where a statue in his honour has been erected to the tune of R1.8 million, we found it to be deserted and dilapidated.”
Rabotapi said the museum on the premises has been without electricity for more than a year and the security officer guarding the white elephant is the only staff member on site. He said the statue that was originally bronze, was baked into a silver shine by the sun with not even a light to keep up the pretence of bronze.
Meanwhile, the North West Department of Arts, Sports, Culture and Recreation Director, Noluyolo Zahela said the department has not abandoned the monument. Zahela said the department had plans, which were to be implemented at the site, but due to limited resources and the budget reductions, these plans could not be implemented.
“The other issues which are affecting the functionality of the site are the lack of electricity and water supply at the site. The property belongs to Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality and the electricity is billed to the municipality. The electricity has been cut-off since Eskom was owed. The department previously paid the money that was owed to Eskom and had since tried to change the electricity to be prepaid, but this did not succeed.
“The supply of water depends on electricity. As the borehole, JoJo tanks and stands were supplied by the department,” she said.
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