Museum keeps doors open despite fire

A FIRE-damaged Limpopo museum has hit on a novel idea to keep their doors open and their coffers full. Repairs to the Bakone Malapa Museum in Polokwane will begin in August after a veld fire spread from an adjoining farm and caused about R20 000 damage on July 24. Instead of closing its doors, the museum has decided to make a public exhibit of the reconstruction work. "Visitors now have the opportunity of witnessing how traditional Bakone houses are built," said Polokwane municipality communications manager, Manoko Matlala. The open-air museum is built on an archaeological site dating back to 1650 and showcases the lifestyle of the Bakone people through demonstrations of traditional handcrafts, music and dance. (African Eye News Service)