This year the Cape Town Holocaust and Genocide Centre (CTHGC) proudly celebrated its 25th anniversary with an event that drew a capacity crowd. The evening was a time for reflection on the Centre’s history and its ongoing impact on the global fight against antisemitism, racism and genocide. This anniversary coincided with two other significant milestones: the 30th anniversary of the end of apartheid in South Africa and the Tutsi genocide in Rwanda.
Founding Director Myra Osrin shared her journey in establishing the Centre. It began in 1995 when she facilitated the national tour of the Anne Frank in the World in South Africa exhibition. The following year, while visiting Israel, Myra came across a Jerusalem Post article about Stephen and James Smith, who had recently opened a small Holocaust Memorial Centre in Beth Shalom, England, and were attending a conference at Yad Vashem. Intrigued, she reached out to Stephen and arranged a visit to their Centre a few months later. After her visit, Myra joined forces with Stephen to establish the Cape Town Holocaust Centre. A small, dedicated team was then assembled to bring this vision to life.
In a recording, Holocaust survivor Pinchas Gutter shared his personal connection to the Centre, reflecting on the long journey that has brought it to this day. In his concluding remarks, he stated, “The rise of antisemitism is a growing concern. The road ahead may be rocky, but I have every confidence that the museum will draw on the same courage and determination that Myra Osrin brought 25 years ago to face these new challenges.”
Stephen Smith reflected on the Centre’s significance, emphasising how the Holocaust’s universal lessons on the fragility of democracy and the dangers of hatred highlight our collective responsibility to protect human dignity and uphold human rights.
Konstanty Gebert, a Polish-Jewish journalist and Genocide scholar, also spoke, noting how centres like the CTHGC help shape the future by fostering empathy and understanding, allowing people to recognise one another’s pain. His words resonated deeply with the audience, reinforcing the Centre’s role as a global force for education and healing.
U.S. Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues, Ellen Germain, delivered a compelling speech on the vital role of institutions like the CTHGC in preserving history and fostering critical thinking in future generations. She underscored how these efforts equip young people with the resilience needed to counter disinformation.
Richard Freedman, Chair of the CTHGC board of trustees, expressed his gratitude to everyone who helped establish and support the Centre over the past 25 years.
Several key figures who have been instrumental in the Centre’s journey attended the event, including Linda Bester, the exhibition designer; Marlene Sibert, the former Education Director; Millie Pimstone, the exhibition copy editor; and Sean O’Sullivan, the filmmaker behind many of the exhibition’s videos. Their presence was a powerful reminder of the many individuals whose contributions have shaped the Centre’s success.
The evening concluded with remarks from the Centre’s current director, Jakub “Kuba” Nowakowski. He viewed the first 25 years as just the beginning, expressing confidence that the Centre would continue evolving to address contemporary issues and challenges. He outlined future projects, including the greater involvement from the second and third generation of Holocaust survivors in the Centre’s work, a tour of Holocaust sites in Poland, and the collection of testimonies from witnesses and survivors of the Tutsi genocide in Rwanda. His words left the audience with a sense of hope and determination.
As the Cape Town Holocaust and Genocide Centre looks ahead to its next chapter, this event served as a powerful reminder of its enduring mission: to promote respect for diversity through education.
Cape Town Holocaust and Genocide Centre: https://ctholocaust.co.za/, admin@holocaust.org.za
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