Despite rumours, Koopmans-de Wet House (oldest house museum in South Africa) to remain open

CapeTalk's Lester Kiewit speaks to Bongani Ndhlovu of Iziko Museums of South Africa.

Listen below:

Koopmans-de Wet House was the first period house museum established in South Africa. It is one of only a few remaining late 18th-century town-houses in Cape Town, and the oldest house museum in the country. 

The Koopmans de Wet House in Cape Town became a significant South African heritage site in 1914.

Furnished as a late 18th-century home for a well-to-do Cape family, this museum boasts some of the finest Cape furniture, silver, and ceramics.

The house is named after Marie Koopmans-de Wet, well known during the South African War for her help to the orphans, widows and people who were enslaved by the Boer republics.

The house was purchased for South Africa in 1913 in memory of Koopmans-de Wet, who, with her sister Margaretha, were the last private occupants of the house.

Some 'news' has circulated online recently saying that Koopmans de Wet House will be closed, however, that is not the case.

Ndhlovu confirms the historic site 'will not be closed as a museum'.

"I can confirm... it will continue to work as a museum and operate as such... it is also important for us to, as we continue our work for heritage preservation, that it must be upgraded... this is not unique to Koopmans de Wet but all museums that fall under Iziko stables."

- Bongani Ndhlovu, Iziko Museums of South Africa

Visitor numbers to the heritage home have declined over the years; roughly less than 2000 people have visited the house over the past five years, which is also why upgrades are needed, says Ndhlovu.

"This tells us that there's a need for us to upgrade the house and to preserve it in a manner that keeps alive the memory of those who established it."

- Bongani Ndhlovu, Iziko Museums of South Africa

The museum will continue to operate as a museum with plans to allow opportunities for entrepreneurship while being a heritage hub, hosting various heritage-related activities and exhibitions.

"I have to state that the house also used to house people who were enslaved, and those people also brought into the space a number of activities related to craftsmanship... We want that memory to be kept alive, and in using that blend of memory of house owners and those who were enslaved, we hope to keep the house more relevant for the future."

- Bongani Ndhlovu, Iziko Museums of South Africa

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