HERITAGE IN DANGER
A heritage resource can be broadly described as any place that is of interest to a community. Because cultural heritage is non-renewable, the National Heritage Resources Act 25 of 1999 was enacted to protect cultural resources in South Africa from destruction, damage and unlawful displacement.
Pursuant to this legislation, a government body was established to manage the cultural heritage of the country, namely the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA). Cultural resources are classified into three grades according to the uniqueness and importance of the heritage resource, namely Grade I (national), Grade II (provincial) and Grade III (local).
Cultural resources can be formally or informally protected. Formal protection means that something of heritage value has been declared a heritage resource by declaration in the State or Provincial gazette. This list of heritage resources can be checked on SAHRA’s web portal: SAHRIS SAHRIS (SAHRIS | SAHRIS).
According to the classification of heritage resources, the following bodies can be contacted regarding heritage sites, public images, monuments and historic graves.
| Agency | Information |
|---|---|
| National Heritage Resources Agency: | SAEHA www.sahra.org.za |
| Historic Graves: | Section of SAHRA Burial Grounds and Graves Burial Grounds and Graves – SAHRA 2020 |
| The Provincial Heritage Resource Bodies: | |
| Gauteng: | PHRA-G, Tebogo.Molokomme@gauteng.gov.za |
| North-West: | NWPG, mosianem@nwpg.gov.za |
| Freestate: | Heritage Free State |
| Mpumalanga: | MHRA, bmoduka@mpg.gov.za |
| Limpopo: | LIHRA, litholek@sac.limpopo.gov.za |
| KwaZulu-Natal: | AMAFA |
| Western Cape: | Heritage Western Cape |
| Eastern Cape: | ECPHRA |
| Northern Cape: | NBKB |
The Heritage Foundation, a private non-profit company, acts on behalf of the Afrikaner community when Afrikaner heritage is endangered. If you know of a cultural resource that is in danger, please let us know by filling in the form below. Also, feel free to contact us if you need help with cultural resources on your property.
