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Protecting our heritage<h2 class="sectHeading">​Know your heritage </h2><p>​Heritage is not only about ancient history; it affects our lives today. Whether natural or cultural, our city is made up of treasures that both reflect our past and are valuable to today’s generations.</p><h4> Our heritage resources include:</h4><ul><li>buildings;</li><li>places and spaces;</li><li>settlements;</li><li>landscapes (natural or cultural); and</li><li>objects and memorials.</li></ul><p>Visit our <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Explore%20and%20enjoy/cape-towns-history-and-heritage/Heritage-resources/Heritage-information-and-resources">heritage information and resources page </a>for useful tips and guides to help you nurture and conserve heritage resources for future generations.</p> <div class="notification with-heading dark-copy pink bg-light-grey"> <div class="graphic with-border"> <i class="info toptip"></i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>FAST FACT</h4><p> Think about the Newlands spring as an example. This site was an important water source for the Cape’s earliest people and is still used by surrounding communities today. </p></div></div><h2 class="sectHeading">Threats to our heritage</h2><p><strong>Heritage cannot be renewed: </strong>if it is destroyed, it can never be replaced. Ignorant, reckless or profit-driven development that fails to consider the impact of such developments on the environment (natural and cultural) and our communities remains the greatest threat to heritage. Other factors which can lead to loss of heritage are poor maintenance, lack of funds to maintain a private site, theft, vandalism and willful neglect.</p> <span> <div class="notification with-heading white-copy yellow bg-darker-grey"><div class="graphic"> <i class="info citycard">​</i></div><div class="desc"><h4>City Connect</h4><p> <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Report/Report-a-crime/report-vandalism">Report vandalism</a></p></div></div></span> <h2 class="sectHeading">Eight things you can do to enjoy and help protect our heritage</h2><p>Heritage belongs to all the people of Cape Town and community participation is vital in preserving our heritage resources.</p><h4> Communities can help identify places of heritage significance in their neighbourhoods and help to protect them for future generations by doing the following:</h4><ul><li> <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Explore%20and%20enjoy/Cape-towns-history-and-heritage/Heritage-sites-and-buildings/Museums-landmarks-and-heritage-sites">Visit heritage sites</a> with your children to teach them about their legacy, and encourage others to do the same.</li><li>Get free architectural advice for building alterations in historic areas before you make any changes as architect, homeowner or tenant. For more information, read <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/residential-property-and-houses/build-or-renovate-your-property/your-heritage-site-or-building">Your heritage site or building</a>. </li><li>Make sure your signage is in accordance with the city’s guidelines and advertising by-law if you own a business in an historic building.</li><li>Use the <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Explore%20and%20enjoy/cape-towns-history-and-heritage/Heritage-resources/Heritage-information-and-resources">information and resources</a> available. With around 25 000 sites listed on Cape Town’s heritage database plus historical maps and a well-stocked resource centre being set up for research or archiving, you have all the support you need to explore your heritage. Get in touch with us to access our archives on <em> <a href="mailto:heritage@capetown.gov.za">heritage@capetown.gov.za</a></em>.</li><li> Clearing out bookshelves? Donate any treasured books on<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Explore%20and%20enjoy/cape-towns-history-and-heritage/Heritage-sites-and-buildings/Museums-landmarks-and-heritage-sites"> history and heritage of the Cape</a> to the City of Cape Town’s heritage resource centre. Get in touch with us to donate on <em> <a href="mailto:heritage@capetown.gov.za">heritage@capetown.gov.za</a></em>.</li><li> Report any destruction of a heritage resource to the environmental control officer.</li><li>Register your local heritage interest group with our <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Departments/Environmental%20Management%20Department">Environmental Management Department</a> and with <a href="https://www.hwc.org.za/" target="_blank">Heritage Western Cape<i class="icon link-external"></i></a> and the South African Heritage Resources Agency. </li><li> Are you aware of an overlooked historical site or heritage resource in your area or in your community worth considering for inclusion in the City’s heritage inventory? Email us the details on <em> <a href="mailto:heritage@capetown.gov.za">heritage@capetown.gov.za</a></em> and we will investigate! </li></ul><h2 class="sectHeading">How the City protects our heritage resources </h2><p>An important part of the management of our heritage resources is the identification and mapping of buildings, places and landscapes that are considered to be worthy of conservation: to be protected and nurtured for the benefit of current and future generations.</p><h4> Our heritage branch works according to national legislation, along with the provincial government. Here is a breakdown of areas of responsibility in the city: </h4><ul><li>The <a href="https://sahra.org.za/" target="_blank">SA Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA)<i class="icon link-external"></i></a> is responsible for the identification and management of sites of national significance (Grade I heritage sites). </li><li> <a href="https://www.hwc.org.za/" target="_blank">Heritage Western Cape (HWC)<i class="icon link-external"></i></a> is responsible for the identification and management of sites of provincial important (Grade II heritage sites). </li><li> The City of Cape Town is responsible for the identification and mapping of heritage resources of local importance (Grade III heritage resources).</li></ul><h4> To ensure the good management of our heritage, the City works on a daily basis with our <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20strategies%2c%20plans%20and%20frameworks/Cultural_Heritage_Strategy_for%20the%20City%20of%20Cape%20Town.pdf" target="_blank">Cultural Her​itage Strategy​</a> to:</h4><ul><li>identify any possible heritage resource;</li><li>ensure all resources are included in an up to date inventory;</li><li> assess the significance of all resource;</li><li>grade all heritage resources according to a national system;</li><li> give heritage resources legal protection;</li><li>administer and manage the protection of our heritage resources;</li><li>enhance and interpret the resource so that more people understand its significance; and</li><li>communicate the value of the resource to the public, and encourage access to heritage resources.</li></ul><h2 class="sectHeading">Heritage legislation</h2><div class="notification with-heading dark-copy light-blue bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border"> <i class="info fastfact"></i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Fast fact</h4><p>South Africa has been protecting its heritage through national legislation since 1911.</p></div></div><p>The<a href="https://www.gov.za/documents/constitution/constitution-Republic-South-Africa-1996-1" target="_blank"> Constitution<i class="icon link-external"></i></a> and the <a href="https://www.gov.za/documents/constitution/chapter-2-bill-rights" target="_blank">Bill of Rights<i class="icon link-external"></i></a> requires that we work together to protect our natural and cultural heritage. </p><p> The <a href="https://www.gov.za/documents/national-heritage-resources-act" target="_blank">National Heritage Resources Act (NHRA)<i class="icon link-external"></i></a>, promulgated in 1999, is the current legislation protecting heritage in South Africa. It aims at promoting an integrated approach to heritage management on national, provincial and local government levels. It also aims to empower local communities to have a role in the protection and conservation of our heritage for our children and their children’s children. The <a href="https://www.environment.gov.za/sites/default/files/legislations/nema_amendment_act107.pdf" target="_blank">National Environmental Management Act<i class="icon link-external"></i></a> protects our natural environment and natural heritage. </p><div class="notification with-heading white-copy blue bg-navy"><div class="graphic no-border"> <i class="info opportunity"></i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Did you know?</h4><p> <strong>An opportunity city:</strong> The City of Cape Town is the first municipality in the Western Cape that has been deemed competent in terms of the National Heritage Resources Act to identify and manage local heritage sites. </p></div></div><h2 class="sectHeading">Heritage Protection Overlays</h2><p>The Heritage Protection Overlay zoning of the <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Bylaws%20and%20policies/City%20of%20Cape%20Town%20Municipal%20Planning%20By-law%202015.pdf" target="_blank">2015 Municipal Planning By-Law</a> is the tool that the City uses to protect buildings, places and spaces which it considers worthy of conservation and important to the city. The criteria for deciding whether a building, place or space is significant in terms of its cultural heritage are defined by the National Heritage Resources Act.</p><div class="notification with-heading dark-copy pink bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border"> <i class="info toptip"></i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Top tip</h4><p> If you are planning on building an extension or renovating your home, make sure you consult first – many sites and buildings in Cape Town are protected. See the <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/residential-property-and-houses/build-or-renovate-your-property/your-heritage-site-or-building">Your heritage site or building page</a> for further information.</p></div></div>GP0|#6bb93b4a-26f6-4814-939f-bae211a8ad99;L0|#06bb93b4a-26f6-4814-939f-bae211a8ad99|Protecting our heritage;GTSet|#ef3a64a2-d764-44bc-9d69-3a63d3fadea1;GPP|#84f2503a-3a8a-41c3-94eb-6ec7df540154;GPP|#b9188e62-cf1a-433d-a10c-06e34a7d1593;GPP|#c529c1ac-1f8d-48ae-8079-d34f4dae9c57;GP0|#eccc291f-20b1-4aa1-8809-620d48b9ba68;L0|#0eccc291f-20b1-4aa1-8809-620d48b9ba68|Protecting our heritage;GPP|#2ae3f437-a951-4df5-aac0-8e6139c44925;GPP|#b61ba3b6-e2ed-4500-bee7-e523686ba8bf;GPP|#af370586-9ba3-404a-9d6e-02066ca42752Work with the City to protect Cape Town’s precious heritage resources0

 

 

CCT Cultural Heritage Strategy626880GP0|#bbdbe054-fabd-491a-8cb8-345f8a847ce3;L0|#0bbdbe054-fabd-491a-8cb8-345f8a847ce3|Cultural heritage strategy;GTSet|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP|#4a698fa1-48a1-4def-afa7-749a0e063169;GPP|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e2018-10-08T22:00:00Z

 

 

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