FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What is defined as heritage?
The National Heritage Resources Act (NHRA) defines a heritage resource as any place or object of cultural significance. ‘Cultural significance’ is defined in the legislation as aesthetic, architectural, historical, scientific, social, spiritual, linguistic or technological value or significance.
Such resources are for example:
- places, buildings, structures and equipment of cultural significance
- places to which oral traditions are attached or which are associated with living heritage
- historical settlements and townscapes
- landscapes and natural features of cultural significance
- geological sites of scientific or cultural importance
- archaeological and palaeontological sites
- graves and burial grounds
- sites of significance relating to the history of slavery in South Africa
- archaeological and palaeontological objects and material, meteorites and rare geological specimens
- objects to which oral traditions are attached or which are associated with living heritage
- ethnographic art and objects
- military objects
- objects of decorative or fine art
- objects of scientific or technological interest
- books, records, documents, photographic positives and negatives, graphic, film and video material or sound recordings.
What are the rights of the community?
Communities have the right, confirmed by the Constitution of South Africa, to be consulted in respect of decisions that will have an impact on the community’s heritage resources. In fact, the NHRA is unambiguous. It affirms that heritage resources “form an important part of the history and beliefs of communities and must be managed in a way that acknowledges the right of affected communities to be consulted and to participate in their management”. To this end a provincial heritage resources authority must maintain a list of registered conservation bodies. You can find a list of conservation bodies in South Africa here. Note that any decision made by a local authority may be appealed by anyone whose rights are affected by such a decision in terms of the Municipal Systems Act. Similarly, any decision may be appealed by any person or body that has an interest in, or is affected by, such a decision in terms of the National Heritage Resources Act.
How do I research my community?
Refer to our article, Historical research: a guide for communities