The Homevale community in Kimberley is raising red flags over the dire state of the local library situated on 3rd Street — a once-vital centre of learning that now stands as a shell of its former self.
Image: Danie van der Lith
THE HOMEVALE community in Kimberley is raising red flags over the dire state of the local library situated on 3rd Street – a once-vital centre of learning that now stands as a shell of its former self.
When the DFA visited the premises, it was hard to tell the building had ever been a library. There was no visible signage, no welcoming entrance, and nothing that whispered – let alone invited – “come in and learn.” Instead, a small, weary-looking structure greeted us, its windows covered in metal sheeting and its perimeter fence lined with broken and missing devil’s fork panels. It offered more a sense of abandonment than education.
One concerned community member spoke to the DFA and described a slow but steady decay. “This place has been a target for vandals over the years, and despite our repeated calls for help, there’s still no security presence here,” he said. “It’s like no one cares anymore.”
Inside, shelves lined with books still stand, offering a glimmer of purpose. But right next to them lay broken devil’s fork fence panels – not outside where they belong, but leaned up like forgotten debris against the shelves. “These have been here for a long time,” the resident pointed out. “No one has bothered to put them back. They were never replaced or repaired.”
Eternally dry taps
Perhaps most shocking is the complete lack of water — a problem that has persisted since the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, nearly four years ago.
“This library hasn’t had water since lockdown,” the resident said, leading the DFA to the taps. True to his word, they were bone dry.
In one restroom, a toilet has been converted into a makeshift storage space. In another, water is manually fetched in buckets from the adjacent Sol Plaatje Cashier Paypoint Service Centre.
One of the toilets in the library is currently being used as a store room.
Image: Danie van der Lith
“How can the building next door have water, but the library doesn’t?” he asked, visibly frustrated. “How are the workers here supposed to use the bathroom? How are the learners who come here supposed to use the toilets?
"We’re asking for basic dignity.”
The lack of functional Internet access has only worsened the situation. The library’s computers remain idle as learners, once frequent visitors for research and schoolwork, have stopped coming altogether.
“They used to come here for school projects, to use the WiFi. Now they’ve got nothing,” the resident said. “And when learners don’t have a place to focus on their studies, they land up on the streets getting into trouble.”
According to him, this isn’t an isolated case. “This is just one library, but there are many others like it across Kimberley and the province. Neglected, forgotten, falling apart. What message are we sending to our children?”
This bathroom in the library is reliant on water from the Sol Plaatje Municipality Service Centre next door.
Image: Danie van der Lith
Pleas ignored
Despite numerous complaints to relevant authorities, residents feel their concerns have been met with silence and inaction.
In response to questions from the DFA, the Northern Cape Department of Sport, Arts and Culture confirmed the issues at the Homevale Library and acknowledged the growing concern from residents.
Regarding the security situation, the department admitted that the devil’s fork panels had been removed following a security incident and are being stored “for safekeeping”. An internal process is under way to assess the cost and logistics of reinstalling the panels and reinforcing the perimeter.
“The safety of staff, learners, and library assets remains a priority,” the department stated, adding that it is exploring preventative measures to secure the building in future.
The department also conceded the severe impact of the water shortage, confirming that staff and users have been relying on temporary access from the neighbouring municipal service centre.
“We are working with the municipality to restore a consistent water supply to the library and ensure that sanitation facilities are functional,” the response read.
As for the long-defunct WiFi, the department noted that efforts are being made to restore Internet connectivity. “We are engaging with the service provider to reinstate full digital functionality, including Internet access to public computers and WiFi.”
Despite the department’s commitments, residents remain wary. Promises have been made before, they say, but very little has changed on the ground.
“This is not just about a building with books,” said the community member. “This is about our children’s futures. This library is supposed to be a safe space for them to learn and grow. Right now, it’s not even safe to be inside.”
The community has called for urgent action, not words, to restore the library to a functioning centre of knowledge. They say the department must move beyond planning and commit to timelines and visible progress.
Until then, the Homevale Library continues to stand as a silent witness to systemic neglect, while the community it’s meant to serve holds on to hope that someone, somewhere, is listening.