“Bhisho is the seat of government in the province. It employs over 4 000 people, with salaries ranging from R48 000 to R1.5 million a year. The revitalisation will convince some employees to live, shop and invest in Bhisho,” said Marawu.

She said as part of the programme, a contractor had already been appointed for the construction of the Bhisho Massacre memorial.

“The construction has commenced and the completion of the project is [forecasted] for January 2012. When completed, there will be a contact centre where visitors to the Bhisho Massacre site will be able to view film footage, historical documents and artifacts from the massacre,” said Marawu.

In addition, she said an office accommodation project was being finalised, with construction due to start in November this year, as well as a recycling project that will create jobs for the unemployed.

She made the announcement following Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile’s tour of the province’s heritage sites and visits to the families of liberation struggle heroes and heroines.