NATIONAL HERITAGE SITES

The South African Heritage Resources Agency, (SAHRA) must identify those places with qualities so exceptional that they are of special national significance in terms of heritage assessment criteria set out in the Act, such as the place’s importance in the community, its possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of South Africa's natural or cultural heritage, its importance in exhibiting particular aesthetic characteristics valued by a community or cultural group, sites of significance relating to the history of slavery in South Africa or its strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons. 

The owner and conservation bodies who have registered their interest in the geographical area in which the proposed heritage site is situated must be notified before declaration.  SAHRA must give them at least 60 days to make submissions regarding the proposed declaration.

No person may destroy, damage, deface, excavate, alter, remove from its original position, subdivide or change the planning status of any national heritage site without a permit issued by SAHRA.

NOTE:  SAHRA only issues permits for national heritage sites.

Anybody may submit a nomination to SAHRA for a place to be declared a national heritage site, and are encouraged to do so.