Cape Towns Castle of Good Hope, South Africas oldest surviving colonial building, is undergoing restoration following years of neglect. Built between 1666 and 1679 by the Dutch East India Company, the site has long been one of the citys most significant historical landmarks.
As reported by IOL , recent inspections revealed deterioration including peeling paint, overgrown gardens, outdated facilities and maintenance issues in the gallery, restaurant and public toilets.
Calvyn Gilfellen , CEO of the Castle Control Board, said several upgrades are already underway and noted the challenges of working on a national monument. Most of the work can only proceed when the wet weather is completely behind us. And, being a 369-year-old building, normal, modern building techniques and protocols do not apply here often leading to time lags and delays.