‘Symbols of resilience, legacy of liberation’: SA pitches two new World Heritage routes to Unesco | News24

Diepkloof Rock Shelter near Elands Bay in the Western Cape is among the sites nominated for inscription on the list of Unesco World Heritage Sites. (Facebook/ Ricardo Mackenzie)

• South Africa has put forward two routes for World Heritage status.
• The routes include multiple sites in five provinces.
• The nominations include liberation struggle landmarks and Middle Stone Age sites.

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Two South African heritage routes have been nominated for World Heritage status. The routes include sites in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Free State and Eastern Cape.

If successful, the two routes will be protected under the World Heritage Convention and inscribed on the World Heritage list.

The nomination will be deliberated this week at the 46th Session of the Unesco World Heritage Committee in New Delhi, India.

This session, which will be attended by state parties to Unesco, is set to discuss and consider nominations for inscription of identified sites on the list of Unesco World Heritage Sites.

Officials from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment; the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture; the National Heritage Council; the Department of International Relations and Cooperation; and the Management Authority will form part of the delegation.

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South Africa has sponsored two nominations titled The Emergence of Modern Human Behaviour: The Pleistocene Occupation Sites of South Africa, and Human Rights, Liberation Struggle and Reconciliation: Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites.

According to KwaZulu-Natal Amafa and Research Institute CEO Mxolisi Dlamuka, The Emergence of Modern Human Behaviour includes three South African Middle Stone Age sites that “have globally provided significant evidence on understanding of who we are today“.

These sites are Diepkloof Rock Shelter near Elands Bay (Western Cape), the Pinnacle Point Site Complex in Mossel Bay (Western Cape), and Sibudu Cave in KwaDukuza (KwaZulu-Natal). 

“These three sites display a suite of evidence of the emergence of modern human behaviour dating from as early as 162 000 years ago, displaying the development of more complex cognitive abilities in our ancestors,” said Dlamuka.

Western Cape Cultural Affairs and Sport MEC Ricardo Mackenzie said: “These sites are not only global archaeological treasures, but also symbols of our resilience, creativity and capacity for innovation.

“They remind us of the importance of preserving our cultural and natural heritage for future generations. It is incredible to imagine the early humans who lived in and passed through these places. I am excited about the potential for World Heritage Site status to boost tourism and economic development, and enable job creation.”

The Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites are located in four provinces: Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and Eastern Cape. They include the Union Buildings, Sharpeville Police Station, Sharpeville Memorial Garden, Sharpeville Grave Site, Liliesleaf, Orlando West, Constitution Hill and Walter Sisulu Square (Gauteng); Ohlange (KwaZulu-Natal); Waaihoek Wesleyan Church (Free State), and The Great Place at Mqhekezweni and the University of Fort Hare (Eastern Cape).

“The components combined encapsulate the legacy of South African liberation in the 20th century and the three tenets, namely human rights, liberation and reconciliation, which are bound together and overlap in the pursuit of peace and justice in South Africa,” said National Heritage Council of South Africa CEO Thabo Manetsi.

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South Africa currently has 10 World Heritage sites, said Manetsi.

“Africa is underrepresented in the World Heritage listing, with 8% of sites declared as World Heritage sites. The inscription of these two nominations will be a very proud moment for South Africa and the continent at large.

“The inscription of these sites will boost South Africa’s tourism, drive socioeconomic and sustainable development, and contribute to job creation. They become protected as heritage of all humanity, not just for South Africa, as they present the values and ideas of importance to all humans globally,” Manetsi added.