Cape Town - Fifty-six years ago Dr Christiaan Barnard walked through the entrance of the Old Main Building of Groote Schuur Hospital, and left having performed the world's first human heart transplant, bringing international acclaim to the medical facility.
Today, those doors remain open for visitors to the Heart of Cape Town Museum, taking them back in time in the original room where the operation was performed, viewing the now large and outdated machinery and instruments then used.
The medical museum provides insight into those pivotal in the operation performed in December 1967, namely Dr Barnard, but also the 25-year old donor Denise Darvall and heart recipient, 53-year old Louis Washkansky.
The procedure, performed by a medical team of 30, lasted six hours. Washkansky died 18 days later from pneumonia.
The operating theatre was declared a National Monument by the then National Monuments Council. It also accommodates regular school visits.
But the museum's future hangs in the balance.
On July 17, a letter from the Groote Schuur Hospital Facility Board (GSHFB) to museum curator advocate Hennie Joubert stated that the Management Agreement was due to expire on July 4, 2025.
The area will revert to the board on July 5, 2025.
Joubert started work on the medical museum in 2006 and it opened on December 3, 2007, also the 40th anniversary of the medical first.
A contract for 10 years was secured with a renewal of another 10 years for the space.
“So the idea was to get it as close as it was on the night of the operation. … ,” Joubert said.
Silicone life-like figures depicting Barnard, with a number of others depicting the medical team can be found inside the museum, as well as a smiling Washkansky post surgery. Joubert had purchased the copyrights for items, and many original items were donated.
“So I would prefer to see that it is there forever, but the hospital is not interested. I don't know why they want to stop the contract…,” Joubert said.
“… I've already shown them that they can have a look at my books. … If I leave, that would be the end of the museum.”
In terms of finding another space for the collection, Joubert said he hadn't started looking yet, but had identified the Dr Chris Barnard Museum in Beaufort West as an option.
“But for the time being, I'm just going to put it in storage.
“I'm going to take out everything that I've installed there so that if I'm going to need it for another museum, then I'll either give it to them but I'm not going to leave it for Groote Schuur,” Joubert said.
The current monthly rental paid by the museum to the GSHFB is R9 635, and the total payment to the GSHFB, including utilities is R18 256.70.
“They wanted to stop the contract and take me to court, although there was an extension. I really don't know exactly why they want me out of the museum. There must be a hidden agenda which I don't know about,” Joubert said.
South African Heritage Resources Agency Senior Manager of Heritage Conservation Management, Ben Mwasinga, said all former National Monuments became Provincial Heritage Sites following the promulgation of the National Heritage Resources Act in 1999.
“So in order for them to make any changes, they would still have to apply to the relevant heritage authority, in this instance, Heritage Western Cape, in order to get a permit to make those changes,” Mwasinga said.
The provincial Health and Wellness Department said at this stage, the Board was still exploring its options regarding the space.
“But to preserve lessee relations, its policy is to provide at least 12 months' notice so that the lessee can make alternative arrangements.”
“The only agreement in place relates to the space rental and the financial obligations that accrue. Neither Groote Schuur Hospital nor its Board has any other commercial interests in the museum.
“We understand that the museum is run entirely as a private venture, and all commercial interests are managed by the museum's owners.
“A few of the exhibits are part of the University of Cape Town's archives and have been entrusted to the museum's care while it remains located on the hospital premises. These would need to be returned on termination of the lease.”