In a bid to restore the roof of a historic building in Stellenbosch, a local non-profit organisation has so far raised over R200 000 in donations.
This is according to Amelia Pretorius, communications officer for the Sustainability Institute (SI) in Lynedoch, Stellenbosch.
The SI launched a fundraising campaign on 19 June to raise money for the restoration of the Drie Gewels building, said Pretorius.
The Sustainability Institute has raised over R200 000 in a campaign to restore the roof of the Drie Gewels building. This is according to Amelia Pretorius, communications officer for the SI in Lynedoch, Stellenbosch. The Lexi Cinema, a long-standing partner in the United Kingdom, has given R190 000 towards the restoration, said Pretorius. PHOTO: Annemieke Thomaidis
Rico Wessels, SI facilities manager, said that while the institute has raised R211 578 so far, a total of R1 million is needed to restore the roof in order to maintain its structural integrity.
The repair is costly because the SI aims to carry out a “like for like” restoration of this historically significant building, said Pretorius.
“It’s a major restore,” said Wessels. “It’s not just a patch up.”
A ‘big problem’
At the moment, the roof is not at risk of immediate collapse, said Wessels.
However, Mietjie Johnson, a staff member who has been working on this property for over 35 years, said the roof is a “big problem”.
“Every time it rains, water comes in at different places,” said Johnson. “The roof needs a lot of attention.”
Over time, roof movement has displaced the tiles, letting in rain that damaged timber and further “deflection in the lines of the roof tiles”, said Gita Goven, CEO and architect for ARG Designs, which is facilitating the restoration.
While the roof is not at risk of immediate collapse, an engineer has assessed it and has specified a repair plan and costing, said Wessels.
Mietjie Johnson has been working at the Sustainability Institute (SI) since 1999 when the SI bought the land, said Johnson. Before that, Johnson had worked for the previous owner for 11 years, she said. For Johnson, the Drie Gewels is a “beautiful” building, but she said the roof is a “big problem” and needs a lot of attention. PHOTO: Annemieke Thomaidis
A site of ‘many hats’
The Drie Gewels building, which is over a 100 years old, “has worn many hats”, said Pretorius.
“It was built with three gables as a linear Cape Dutch Manor House [and] has been able to support many generations of varied activities in this beautiful setting,” said Goven.
The building was taken over by the SI, along with the surrounding land in 1999, and has since been used as offices, a guesthouse, and has most recently been home to the Waldorf School, said Johnson.
“The building means a lot to many people,” said Johnson. “It provides space and accommodation for people, a crèche for children, for a community school, and of course, job creation for people.”
A timeline depicting the history of the Drie Gewels building, according to the Sustainability Institute’s website and the Stellenbosch Heritage Foundation’s website. INFOGRAPHIC: Annemieke Thomaidis
Application for heritage site
Currently, the historic building is in the process of receiving certification to be recognised as a heritage building, said Wessels.
While the SI has received verbal confirmation from the Stellenbosch Heritage Foundation, it has not yet received the certificate with the official grading, said Pretorius.
The listing can be found on the Stellenbosch Heritage Foundation website.
The historic Drie Gewels building is just over 100 years old, according to Mietjie Johnson, a current staff member at the Sustainability Institute. “When a building is that old, people don’t want to see it lost,” said Johnson. “It has stood for so long and has accommodated so many different people and children.” PHOTO: Supplied/Amelia Pretorius (left); Annemieke Thomaidis (right)