Some of the staff at the KwaZulu-Natal Museum in Pietermaritzburg gathered for a meeting with Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie recently. | Supplied
Durban — Staff members of the KwaZulu-Natal Museum said they hoped their plight over the amalgamation of their institution with others as part of government’s reform programme would be considered after meeting with Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie recently.
The minister made a quick visit to talk to management and staff, giving the workers a platform to air their concerns.
They told the Independent on Saturday they had been kept in the dark over a possible merger with Ditsong Museum in Gauteng during what they labelled as a lengthy process which had caused anxiety among staff about their jobs. Staff said their concerns began in April when a Government Gazette notice indicated the museum would be “abolished”.
“All of us were quite shocked, more so because nothing had really been communicated to us,” said one member of an association which represents staff at key meetings with museum management.
He said they were not against any merger because they understood it to be part of government policy.
“When we heard there was a process to amalgamate our museum with another, we were not going to oppose it, but simply wanted to be informed and involved as the matter also affected us,” the staff member said.
When news of the amalgamation emerged, staff were disappointed because they had hoped it would be with an institution within the province or very close to KwaZulu-Natal, insisting that Gauteng was very far.
Another staff member said they had been encouraged after meeting the minister.
“We got a sense of somebody that wants to engage with us, get our views and get the matter resolved as soon as possible.
“That is very encouraging to many of us who have been anxiously waiting to hear the conclusion of this process,” the staff member said.
Staff said they looked forward to the next meeting with McKenzie.
KZN Museum is one of the most prestigious institutions of its kind and is renowned for its unique collections and galleries.
Independent on Saturday