April 17, 2005
By Lucky Sindane
JOBURG'S world famous jazz club Kippies has been declared a provisional heritage site by the Gauteng MEC for sport, recreation, arts and culture, Barbara Creecy.
The club in Newtown has been under threat since cracks appeared in the walls, putting the building at risk of collapse.
The provisional order, signed at a ceremony outside Kippies on 12 April, is valid for two years.
"The Gauteng provincial government acknowledges the significant role that Kippies has played in putting Gauteng on the map as an international jazz venue of note, and its importance as a cultural heritage site," said Creecy.
The club has seen many of South Africa's greatest jazz musicians pass through its doors.
With the appearance of the cracks it was initially thought the building, or a part of it, would have to be demolished. However, other options are now being considered.
The City of Johannesburg and the province, along with the building's management and the provincial heritage resource authority, will use the time to investigate ways to preserve the internationally acclaimed jazz club named after saxophonist Kippie Moeketsi.
"The City is pleased that we are able to work with the provincial government in finding a lasting solution to the preservation of our heritage," said mayoral committee member for inner city, Sol Cowan. He added: "Our priority is the safety of citizens of Johannesburg and those who visit our venues."
Creecy said the declaration did not detract from the fact that the building was unsafe.
The building will remain closed until it is once again structurally sound.
"This will give the Gauteng provincial government an opportunity to work with the City of Johannesburg, the provincial heritage resource authority and the current management of the Kippies building and put together a sustainable plan for the preservation of this important cultural institution in our province," Creecy added.
A committee will be set up to address issues such as the temporary location of Kippies while issues of safety are considered, future development plans, financial sustainability models and mobilising public/private partnerships.
Representatives from Gauteng, the City of Johannesburg, the Gauteng legislature's portfolio committee on sport, recreation, arts and culture, the provincial heritage resources authority and the management of Kippies will be appointed to the committee.
"We are calling on the private sector, the arts and culture community in general, and jazz lovers in particular to assist us in our vision of making Kippies a world class jazz venue," said Creecy.
Kippies' owner, Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse, said he was excited by the decision to turn it into a heritage site. "This was long over due, it will be bigger and better and will attract more artists."
He added: "When it was announced that Kippies was going to be demolished I got calls from overseas, people were very disappointed. Kippies is an internationally recognised jazz venue and it's going to attract a lot of tourists."
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