Public encouraged to nominate meaningful heritage sites

CULTURAL Affairs and Sport MEC Anroux Marais is asking the public to nominate heritage resources in the Western Cape as provincial heritage sites.

Following previous years’ nominations, Heritage Western Cape, through a public participation process, has recognised various sites across the province.

They are the Rex Trueform building in Salt River, the Trojan Horse massacre site in Athlone, the Kaaimans River Bridge in Wilderness and Blaauwberg Nature Reserve.

In 2020, Freedom Square in Bonteheuwel, the Gugulethu Seven Memorial in Gugulethu, Princess Vlei in Retreat and Langa Pass Office in Langa were among the sites that hold special qualities which made them significant in the Western Cape.

Through the process of nominating, the public is encouraged to nominate locations that have particular meaning to their culture, memory and lived experience.

Marais said: “These sites should, among other values, either have aesthetic, architectural, historical, scientific, social, spiritual, linguistic or technological heritage significance.

“For the full set of criteria and the process for application, the public may consult the National Heritage Resources Act, 1999.

“Our province is privileged with ... diverse and important tangible and intangible heritage ... (It) is unique and precious, and it can’t be renewed.

“Therefore it is very important that we preserve and protect it to ensure that it is still here to serve future generations by facilitating healing, spiritual well-being and economic growth.

“I call on all people of our province to help us identify these assets so that we can ensure they are protected.”