Tendai
Katsande

MArch
Unit 15X

Safeguarding Fish Keitseng’s Vanishing Heritage

In the production of African liberation (His)tory Fish Keitseng is left out and thus I ask the question that how do we commemorate sidelined figure?

I discovered Fish Keitseng, who, by his unrelenting commitment to justice, made a significant contribution to South Africa’s emancipation. He established and successfully maintained an underground transportation system for the ANC, which secured the safety of refugee transit throughout Botswana. I began to demolish the areas of little significance as a design development and a statement, highlighting them through voids and drawing inspiration from the 911 monument.

Using the principles of a safe home and the ways that Botswana culture celebrates and preserves the memory of the departed, I developed a memorial journey to offer value to the monument and the local community while highlighting the legacy of Keitseng inside Peleng.

The first part of my design idea was to create laws to counteract the design and development of cultural sites so that the community might profit from the placement of monuments and memorials. The second task was creating a memorial that complies with the new counter regulations in honour of Fish Keitseng and the safe home legacy around him. This design is a memorial route that links the Peleng hill and the Fish Keitseng monument with several infrastructures along the way.

The focus of my thesis has been to investigate and analyse the ways in which monuments might benefit the local community where they are located. I questioned whether a structure or area should be designated as a national monument just because of its historical significance and antiquity. 

I have concluded that a memorial or monument ought to be appointed as such on the grounds that it provides greater value to the local community for which it was intended. In this way, through its value in the community the memorial / monument will endure forever and continue to commemorate rather than simply fading as a box containing local history.

Fish Keitseng created and successfully operated an underground transit infrastructure for the ANC to North Africa, ensuring the transfer of refugees via Botswana. Katsande, T. Unit 15X. 2023.
Understanding areas of significance within Lobatse. Katsande, T. Unit 15X. 2023.
In 1959, Fish Keitseng arrived in Lobatse and stayed in a small typical Botswana house built of soil and thatch. Katsande, T. Unit 15X. 2023.
Theoretical backing: Understanding Tswana cultural memorial rituals. Katsande, T. Unit 15X. 2023.
Intervention master plan (pilgrimage route plan). Katsande, T. Unit 15X. 2023.
Perspective: The open space next to the monument is intended to serve as a platform that functions as an amphitheatre, inviting people to meet and share their stories. Katsande, T. Unit 15X. 2023.
Hiding in plain sight: The sole purpose of this space was to make a mockery of declaring a place a monument and impose laws on it, but it does not bring any value to its audience. The next step was creating market stalls with play and sitting areas next to the house that further emphasizes the concept of hiding in plain sight. Katsande, T. Unit 15X. 2023.
Counter charter memorial. Katsande, T. Unit 15X. 2023.