Heritage Western Cape

History

Heritage Western Cape is the successor body to the former National Monuments Council in the Western Cape. Under the 1996 Constitution of South Africa, cultural matters are a competency shared between national and provincial government. This necessitated the creation of a system whereby many of the responsibilities of the former National Monuments Council were devolved to provincial level via the National Heritage Resources Act.

Whilst provinces may pass their own heritage conservation legislation, the Government of the Western Cape chose to use provisions of the National Heritage Resources Act which allow it to establish a provincial heritage resources authority (PHRA). Heritage Western Cape was hence established by regulation on 25 October 2002. In 2003 a Council was appointed by the province’s Minister for Cultural Affairs and Sport and has since met on a quarterly basis.

The Council has established a number of sub-committees which meet regularly to carry out the legal responsibilities of the organisation. For the most part this concerns the processing of almost 3 300 applications per annum for work on sites protected under the terms of the National Heritage Resources Act.

Heritage Western Cape inherited responsibility for approximately 2,500 former national monuments, now known as "provincial heritage sites". The National Heritage Resources Act provides for a greater variety of protection than did its predecessor and the organisation has continued to institute protections of various forms under its terms. A large part of this work is dedicated to transforming the heritage landscape of the Western Cape to ensure that the heritage of all its people enjoys equal recognition and appropriate protection.

The logo of the organisation was launched by the provincial Minister for Cultural Affairs and Sport on 13 May 2006.

SAHRA and HWC's mandate

Heritage Western Cape is subject to a biennial assessment of competency by the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) in terms of which it is determined which aspects of the National Heritage Resources Act it is qualified to implement. It has been assessed as competent to deal with all areas over which a provincial heritage resources authority is permitted to act, aside from Section 36 of the Act which covers certain aspects relating to graves and burials.

To clarify areas of uncertainty regarding mandate, representatives of Heritage Western Cape meet quarterly with SAHRA. Following a court case that created uncertainty regarding responsibility for sites that have been recognised as Grade I by SAHRA, but which have not yet been declared as national heritage sites, a memorandum of understanding has been concluded which allows Heritage Western Cape to deal with all such matters unless they concern archaeological sites and graves protected under Sections 35 and 36 of the National Heritage Resources Act.

Council and committees

Heritage Western Cape is governed by a Council which is appointed by the province's Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport. It consists of up to 14 members appointed for a three-year term of office. The Council meets quarterly and has established an Executive Committee to manage its business between its meetings. The Executive is chaired by the chairperson of the Council and is otherwise made up of the chairpersons of standing sub-committees.

The terms of office of the present Council and its sub-committees expire on 31 August 2016.

There are five standing sub-committees which oversee aspects of the day-to-day business of the organisation. They are made up of specialists who are recognised for their expertise and experience in the areas of business of the committees on which they serve.

Built Environment and Landscapes Committee (BELCOM)

Established in 2003, it considers permit applications relating to structures and landscapes that are provincial heritage sites, provisionally protected, on the register of heritage resources, public monuments or memorials, or older than 60 years. Applications to work on such sites are assessed by the committee to consider whether or not they should be approved. The committee meets monthly.

Archaeological, Palaeontological and Meteorites Permit Committee (APM)

Applications to work on archaeological and palaeontological sites and meteorite permit applications in the province are considered by the APM Committee. It also considers applications concerning provincial heritage sites, provisionally protected sites and sites on the register of heritage resources that have been protected for their archaeological or palaeontological value. The Committee also advises the IACom regarding impact assessments on archaeological, palaeontological and meteorite resources. The committee meets monthly.

Impact Assessment Committee (IACom)

Established in 2010 it is responsible for considering impact assessments that are submitted to Heritage Western Cape under the terms of the National Heritage Resources Act, the National Environment Management Act, or The Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act. The committee meets monthly.

Appeals Committee

Established in 2003 this Committee deals with appeals made against decisions taken by the committees and staff of Heritage Western Cape. The committee meets monthly. (There is a further right of appeal to a tribunal established by the provincial Minister for Cultural Affairs and Sport.)

Inventories, Gradings and Interpretations Committee (IGIC)

This committee was established in 2012 via amalgamation of three sub-committees. It considers and makes recommendations to the Council on grading of heritage resources; adoption of inventories of heritage resources submitted to Heritage Western Cape by municipalities and conservation bodies; formal protection of sites as provincial heritage sites or placement on the 'register' and texts for the interpretation of heritage sites. The committee meets quarterly.

Chairperson of Council

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Staff complement

Heritage Western Cape is managed by a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who is assisted by a Deputy Director. It has the following Sections: Administrative Support, Professional Services (responsible for processing application) and Policy and Planning responsible for policy development, research and inventories). The latter two are made up of professional archaeologists, architects, historians and planners.

In terms of delegations from the Council the staff deal with areas of responsibility of the organisation not covered by the committees, mainly the processing of applications for minor work on heritage resources. The staff also provides support to and makes recommendations to the Council and its sub-committees.

Provincial heritage sites

There are approximately 2,500 provincial heritage sites in the Western Cape. Most of these were declared under legislation that predates the National Heritage Resources Act. Known as "national monuments" from 1969–2000 and "historical monuments" from 1934–1969, these sites are in the process of being graded in terms of the grading system prescribed by the Act and which determines whether they remain provincial heritage sites, are included in the register of heritage resources or no longer enjoy formal protection.

Sites declared by HWC

In its early years Heritage Western Cape did not declare any new Provincial Heritage Sites, but in recent years has resumed declaration and has since 2009 gazetted the following:

Inventories of the national estate

Inventories of the national estate consist of identified heritage resources situated within a particular geographical area and/or within a certain category (e.g.: built environment, archaeology, etc.) and must be submitted to Heritage Western Cape at the time of compiling or amending a municipal planning scheme.

Inventories of heritage resources for aspects of the national estate situated in the following municipalities have been submitted to Heritage Western Cape:

These inventories deal primarily with built environment in an urban context and are not complete inventories of the municipalities concerned.

Funding

Heritage Western Cape receives an annual transfer payment from the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport which covers the bulk of its operational costs. Its staff members are public servants in the employ of the Department which carries the cost of their salaries and benefits. Other sources of income include fees levied from charges for processing of applications.

Conservation bodies

Heritage Western Cape is required to register conservation bodies interested in the protection of the national estate in the province. It has registered 84 such organisations which are consulted on matters before the organisation.