Heritage Week Webinar
HERITAGE WEEK
VIRTUAL SEMINAR
The South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) is pleased to extend an invitation to our Annual Heritage Month Webinar, a significant event on our calendar that celebrates and critically examines the preservation of South Africa’s diverse heritage.
This year’s webinar, held under the theme “Resilient Heritage: Safeguarding South Africa’s Legacy in a Changing Climate,” will take place over four days in a fully virtual format. The programme is thoughtfully aligned with the broader G20 theme of Climate Change and Resilience, reflecting our commitment to engaging with global conversations on sustainability, climate adaptation, and cultural preservation.
Join us as we explore the profound and growing impact of climate change on both tangible and intangible heritage across the country. Through a dynamic series of keynote addresses, expert panel discussions, and community-led dialogues, the webinar will highlight innovative, inclusive, and forward-looking approaches to heritage management in the face of environmental and societal challenges.
We invite heritage professionals, academics, policymakers, students, community leaders, and all interested stakeholders to participate in this timely and essential dialogue. Mark your calendars and be part of shaping a resilient future where heritage plays a central role in climate action and disaster risk reduction.
Please find the Heritage Week Seminar Programmes below, session links included on the programme.
HERITAGE WEEK OPENING SESSION
The Heritage week opening session will commence on Tuesday morning the 16th of September. The main objective of this session is to providing some context and background, as well as to provide further details on proceedings for the week. Session speakers are presented below.
MS ELODIE SEOTSENG TLHOAELE
Council Chairperson
ADV. LUNGISA MALGAS
Chief Executive Officer
MS. MAMAKOMORENG NKHASI-LESAOANA
Executive Officer: Heritage Resources Management
HERITAGE WEEK PROGRAMME
Day 1: Heritage at Risk - The Climate Crisis and Our Cultural Legacy
South Africa’s heritage is increasingly under threat from the impacts of climate change, including rising sea levels, extreme weather, and desertification. Day 1 will unpack the science and lived realities of climate-induced risks to both tangible and intangible heritage across the country. Experts will share insights on vulnerability assessments, site mapping, and case studies from coastal, rural, and urban contexts. This day sets the stage for understanding why urgent climate action is critical for safeguarding our cultural legacy.
16 September 09:30 -13:00 PM
Day 2: Disaster Risk Management in the Heritage Sector – From Policy to Practice
Effective disaster preparedness is key to protecting heritage in a time of increasing climate volatility. Day 2 will focus on how South Africa’s heritage institutions, local governments, and communities are integrating heritage protection into disaster risk reduction frameworks. Presentations will explore emergency planning, legislative gaps, inter-agency coordination, and recovery strategies following recent floods, fires, and other natural disasters. The day offers a platform for strengthening policy, planning, and practical responses.
17 September 09:30 – 13:00 PM
Day 3: Restitution of Cultural Property
The South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) is proud to host a G20-focused webinar on the Restitution of Cultural Property, bringing together global voices to explore pathways for the return, protection, and circulation of cultural heritage. This dialogue will reflect on international best practices, highlight Africa’s experiences in restitution, and consider how G20 collaboration can strengthen policy, diplomacy, and ethical stewardship. By engaging experts, governments, and heritage practitioners, the webinar seeks to advance a shared commitment to justice, reconciliation, and sustainable cultural heritage management.
18 September 09:30 – 16:00 PM
Day 4: Innovating for Resilience – Sustainable Solutions for Heritage Futures
As we look to the future, innovation and sustainability must guide how we protect heritage. Day 4 will explore cutting-edge tools and solutions from digital preservation and smart monitoring systems to green materials and sustainable conservation practices. The programme will also examine funding models and strategic partnerships that can enable long-term resilience. This closing day offers a forward-looking vision of how the heritage sector can adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing world.
19 September 09:30 – 13:00 PM
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT SAHRA’S SENIOR MANAGER: HCM
BEN MWASINGA
SENIOR MANAGER: HERITAGE CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT
+27 21 462 4502/ 8634
bmwasinga@sahra.org.za