Like many house museums, the Totius House Museum in Potchefstroom is becoming dilapidated because essential maintenance cannot always be done. AfriForum’s Potchefstroom branch noted this need and approached the organisation’s head office for financial support to do essential work.
The electrical wiring was checked and repaired where necessary. All bulbs were replaced and the floodlights outside were repaired or replaced. Ettiene Engelbrecht, the electrician, replaced a circuit breaker and installed a day-night switch for the outside lights. He also reinforced and polished the stoep light. Engelbrecht confirmed that the house would have faced a fire hazard if this work had not been done.
The wooden stoep railing, badly damaged by termites, was repaired and painted. The J.B. Marks Local Municipality has subsequently treated the house for termites, which will help a lot.
There was serious water damage to the outer wall of the kitchen. The wall was repaired on the inside and outside, the plaster was replaced and the wall was sealed and painted. The major problem, however, is that the gutters are rotten, which causes the water damage.
Elliot Ratikwane, the contractor who did all the repairs except the electrical work, repaired and painted one of the side doors free of charge. To him it is important for the museum to be restored according to the original techniques.
Danell de Wet, museum historian at the Totius House Museum, conveyed her gratitude to AfriForum for the donation, which was used for essential work. De Wet asked the community to get involved with the museum and to visit it. They also need assistance in the garden, where they would like to plant plants typically dating from the early 1900s.
Alana Bailey, AfriForum’s Head of Cultural Affairs, thanked the staff and the community for their involvement in this and other museums in die area. “The authorities care very little for culture, and unless a community such as the people of Potchefstroom get involved, irreplaceable cultural treasures will be lost. We encourage people to visit the Totius House when they are in the vicinity again.”
Potchefstroom Heritage also handed certificates of recognition for the work at the Totius House Museum to Bailey, Kappie van Wyk, Chairperson of AfriForum’s Potchefstroom branch, and Alta Pretorius, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for the Mooi River.
“It is wonderful to get involved in the preservation of our heritage. I would really like to call on the residents of Potchefstroom to become involved in our heritage and in particular the Totius House Museum. The gutters must be replaced urgently to prevent further water damage, and donations for this purpose will be greatly appreciated. Donations as well as expertise will come in handy,” Pretorius says.
Get involved with AfriForum’s Potchefstroom branch today and help make your area a better place. Contact Leanie van Ronge at 072 314 1774 to join.