PROJECTS AND NEWS : HEAD OFFICE

• SLAVE TRADE AND ITS ABOLITION
  
  The 23rd of August has been proclaimed as the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition.  To find out more about this, and to read the message from the Director-General of UNESCO, click on the attached PDF document.  Message from UNESCO Director-General
   
• YOUTH DAY PROGRAMME - 2005
  
  SAHRA once again targeted young people for its annual Youth Heritage Awareness Project, scheduled to coincide with Youth Day, 16 June 2005.  SAHRA invited groups of learners from various schools situated in and around the Cape Town area to attend a workshop.  Learners were introduced, by means of visual presentations, to SAHRA core functions in general, and more particularly to heritage sites, such as Robben Island, Table Mountain, Langa and Mapungubwe in the Limpopo Province.
  
  The project was highly successful and the feedback from both the learners and their educators was positive.  It was evident from the nature of questions asked by learners during the programme that they are eager to obtain more knowledge of South Africa's heritage.
  
       
   
• STRATEGIC WORKSHOP - FEBRUARY 2005
  
  Executive Management, Provincial Managers, heritage staff and heads of the various administrative divisions at SAHRA, attended a Strategic Workshop from 10 - 12 February 2005.
  
  Presentations were also heard from Mr. Vusi Ndima, Chife Director at Department of Arts and Culture, as well as SAHRA's Chairman, Dr. Sifiso Ndlovu and Mr. Jomo Kwadi, Chief Director in the Minister's office.
  
  The three days were marked by long hours and hard work, but in the end everyone who attended felt that they had accomplished much more than they had anticipated.
  
               
  
                  
  Views from the conference room and various groups in discussion.
   
• NEW STAFF VISIT CAPE TOWN FOR TRAINING
  
  During the week of 10-14 January 2005, 10 new SAHRA employees from across the country spent valuable time getting to grips with the varied aspects of SAHRA. 
  
  They attended various presentations, such as human resource administration; shipwrecks, heritage objects, financial administration and information technology procedures. They were also introduced to Head Office staff, and spent some time in SAHRA's extensive research library. 
  
  After many hours of concentration, the new members of the SAHRA team went on an excursion to one of South Africa's most visited tourist attractions, Robben Island.  The views during the boat trip to the island itself is breathtaking, whilst the visit to the island creates a unique experience for all those who go there.
  
  After a memorable day, and a very busy week, our new team members departed to their respective provinces to begin the mammoth, yet rewarding task, of heritage management in South Africa.
  
                    
  
                  
  Top Row from left to right : 
  Boat trip to Robben Island with panoramic views of Table Mountain
  as well as the Prison courtyard on the island.
  Bottom Row from left to right:
  Prison Building; Nelson Mandela's Cell and lunch.
   
• VISIT BY MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE
  
  On Tuesday, 3 August 2004, the SAHRA staff in Cape Town were honoured to have had the privilege of meeting both the Minister and Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture.
  
  The Minister, Dr  Pallo Jordan, and his Deputy, Ms Ntombazana Botha attended a meeting with the SAHRA Councillor, Mr. Ciraj Rassool, as well as senior members of the SAHRA Executive.
  
  Various members of staff had the opportunity of presenting the delegation with presentations regarding the work SAHRA does. 
  
       
   
• SAHRA CELEBRATES YOUTH - 2004
  
  South Africans celebrate Youth Day on 16 June.  In lieu of this occasion, SAHRA initiated an awareness pilot project, which involved targeting a number of school groups, from various areas around Cape Town.  SAHRA invited these groups to attend a workshop.  They were introduced, with the use of visual presentations, to the various disciplines such as, the library, information systems, the web, maritime archaeology, paleontology, living heritage, fossils, heritage objects etc.
  
  The youth of South Africa is very important, and SAHRA is hoping to expand this pilot project across the country, thereby reaching more of our youth with the important message of heritage conservation in South Africa.
  
       
  
  From left to right, the above schools are: 
  Lighthouse Centre of Learning, Parow;  Simonsberg Primary School, Kraaifontein; 
  Mokone Primary School, Langa.
   

• Exhibition:  Tracing the contribution made by women against the pass laws and struggle for freedom
  
  South Africa has indeed achieved a lot within a short time. 1994 marked the turn of the political climate for South Africans. Community organizations have since developed. Proactive measures were initiated to address imbalances of the past with reconstruction and development programmes.
  
  The post 1994 period came with new projects in different fields.  Many new heritage organizations have been established, such as the Lwandle Migrant Labour Museum.  Lwandle Migrant Labour Museum became the first township-based museum in South Africa commemorating hostel life and the migrant labour system. 
  
  2004 marked the 10th anniversary celebrations.  Lwandle Museum is celebrating this day by dedicating its activities to women.  On the 9th August 2004 an exhibition tracing the contribution made by women against the pass laws would be unveiled.  This exhibition will run until December 2004. The museum together with the South African Heritage Resources Agency have made this possible.
  
  Visitors are welcomed to view the exhibition.  For bookings you can call on 021 845 6119 during office hours.  The museum opens from Monday to Saturday.  Evening and Sunday tours can be arranged.
  
            
  Unveiling ceremony information