Neil Fraser
April 5, 2004
THE Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, which has been quietly taking shape in the old Electric Workshop in Newtown, is a world-class facility - destined to be the largest science in Africa, it is a cultural and educational institution promoting scientific literacy for learners and educators alike.
The first phase of the R150-million investment is virtually complete and comprises a section of exhibition space, temporary classrooms and laboratories. The entire project is targeted for an early 2006 completion and later phases include classrooms, laboratories, a resource centre, library, auditorium, commercial and retail facilities, restaurants and science shops.
Why Sci-Bono? Sci is derived of course from 'Science' whilst Bono (pronounced bore-nor) is a TshiVenda word meaning 'Vision' and together they encapsulate Marcel Proust's contention that "the real voyage of discovery comes not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes".
The Gauteng Department of Education is championing the project and the Gauteng Education Development Trust is the project development vehicle. Private sector companies that have an interest in promoting maths, science and technology are also being encouraged to support the project, and mining giant BHP Billiton recently provided a R13.5-million grant for a career centre promoting science and technology on the premises.
Sci-Bono will be a place where learners and educators can experience and discover through a variety of interactive displays and exhibits, scientific phenomena they generally only read about in text books. Classroom lessons will be brought to life in an entertaining way translating the contemporary science and technology curriculum from paper to innovative practice.
The newly appointed Chief Executive of Sci-Bono, Kelebogile Dilotsotlhe, was recently quoted in the media as saying: "I aim to position the centre as a champion of the struggle to bridge the scientific and the technological divide among our learners. Our ultimate goal is to create a new generation of young scientists who graduate as marketable in business. We want to enchant young minds in the wonders of science from an early age and remove the mind-set which says that science is difficult and only for clever learners." She herself is a perfect role model for visitors - born in Kuruman, she was educated in Mafikeng, studied science in Potchefstroom, received a B.Ed in Science followed by an M.Ed in Science at Harvard and Wits, is now undertaking her PhD, and is one of the few women in the world to head up a science centre!
The Electric Workshop and Turbine Hall are two massive buildings that remain as reminders of the old power station built early in the 1900s in Newtown. The cooling towers of the Electric Workshop were imploded in 1985 but the buildings have stood derelict for decades apart from the odd fashion show, launch or rave. If plans for Turbine Hall are brought to fruition, it will provide the city with a much-needed 450-seater multi-purpose hall and the city's own "Tate Modern". So the drive towards World Class status forges on!
Meanwhile back in the city centre and, following my glowing report last week on the festivities that heralded the inauguration of the Constitutional Court, I received this letter from someone who put their faith in the inner city by buying a building some years ago at a time when no-one else was investing, an inner city pioneer. Now somewhat disillusioned, and with justification!
"I read your comments about the banquets, etc., to celebrate the inauguration of the Constitutional Court. Great as these events may have been, the pleasure of participation was reserved for the selected precious few.
The rest of us had to contend with the unbelievable chaos brought about by the brainless individuals who had decided to cut off access to the heart of our city on a busy workday. I had a tender to drop off in Sandton, the round trip took in excess of four hours! Arriving back, I was denied access to the building that I own by an arrogant and ill mannered Metro official who shouted that "even the tenants had to go and park somewhere else" and turned around and walked away. Eventually I found parking several blocks away, only to be chased yet again by a Metro tow-away squad who warned me that parking was illegal at that spot after 3 o'clock in the afternoon. This scenario played itself out three more times before I eventually found somewhere to hide my car. I arrived back at my office just before 4 o'clock, having left at 11.30 in the morning!
Almost all the tenants in my building were forced to close their offices around lunch time. The majority of them could not see their clients due to the chaos and the inability of buses and individuals to gain access to the area.
Several accidents took place. Harrison Street was closed to traffic next to Bank City, and we were diverted down to Simmonds. An old man who had lost control of either his mind or his car drove at speed in between the two right hand lanes, that were standing still at the time. He missed me by a fraction, however, he collided with at least four cars behind me and two taxis and three other cars ahead of me. I could not have blamed him for losing his mind, if that were the case, because it had taken me nearly a full hour to travel the distance between Braamfontein and Jeppe street.
The sidewalks were filled with frustrated pedestrians, everyone complaining about the chaos. The explanations ranged from "Mbeki having another party" to "maybe Mandela has died"
Did anyone bother to warn us about the planned disruptions? No, of course not. Did anyone bother to ask for our approval? No, of course not. Did we, as investors in the rejuvenation of the city, crack an invite? You can work the answer to that one out for yourself.
The fact is that the Metro management is not really concerned about the City.
They forget that it is a place of business where people work to earn their wages. Instead they see it as a convenient place for parties, celebrations, marches, demonstrations, you name it.
My building is one of the success stories of central Johannesburg. Now nearly fully occupied, 98% of the tenants are black businessmen and women - all of them true entrepreneurs who are bringing their own dreams to fruition. All self financing, not relying on support, they are the kind of people that hold the future of South Africa in their hands.
They, like myself, are all appalled at the regular invasions of our streets by persons who do not seem to understand what it takes to make the wheels of a city turn.
They, like myself, would like to see evidence of a more mature and businesslike attitude from the Metro management."
Whilst the overall Metro management must bear the responsibility for the appalling situation that developed, the MPD were clearly the major contributors. Apart from the absolute chaos that was created through the total indifference of the Metro Police Department to the normal functioning of the city, the behaviour and attitude that so many of their officers displayed is totally unacceptable. And this is not the first time that Citichat has commented on their rudeness and arrogance to the very people who pay their salaries. They do not appear to be interested in the regeneration of the Inner City which aims to "raise and sustain private investment leading to a steady rise in property values."
Nor do they appear to have heard of one of the Executive Mayor's stated priorities "service-delivery excellence, customer care and Batho Pele" - someone better be explaining to the MPD just what all this means.
