South Africa General

In order for an archaeological or palaeontological site to be declared a National Heritage Site, it must first be Graded as being of appropriate national cultural significance. At the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), our approach is that the Grading process should encompasses the lion’s share of the work in assessing a site’s significance in order to compile an extensive Grading nomination dossier. This paper represents observations gleaned from roughly six years’ experience as a heritage officer working with the grading of archaeological and palaeontological sites as National Heritage Sites, within the Archaeology, Palaeontology and Meteorites Unit, at SAHRA.

The Need for Grading

Section 3(3) of the National Heritage Resources Act (No. 25 of 1999)(NHRA) requires that all heritage resources be graded in order to be assigned the appropriate level of management responsibility - whether this responsibility rest at the Local, Provincial or National level – to a heritage resource and to indicate its significance. Therefore, cultural significance serves as the primary guideline whereby a site is graded. Grading is the process whereby an appropriate level of significance, and consequently the applicable level of management is established. Grading then informs what degree of formal site protection will be recommended.

Grade 1 sites are expected to exemplify development within South Africa, from its earliest geological formation, to the beginnings of humanity, and through its peopling - that illustrates the traditions, values, conflicts and achievements which formed contemporary South Africa, and possibly South Africa’s contribution to the world. Grade 1 sites are consequently regarded...

The article below forms part of Mike Alfred's series on Joburg personalities from the first decade of the 21st century. Click here to view Kathy Munro's fantastic introduction and here to view the series index. The stories were written in 2005/6.

When I talk to 76 year-old Clive Chipkin in his Parkview studio, he tells me that the book was probably in him from the beginning, from as far back as University days, although he doesn’t know whether he intended to write it at that stage of his life. Almost in the same breath he tells me that he’s just returned from a first time visit to Israel where, against expectations, he liked it; particularly the modern, thirties architecture of Tel Aviv and Haifa. Slender, energetic Chipkin, is still designing, still traveling far afield for his work, still recording and relating the stories of Joburg’s always changing, architectural and social structures. His mind is as lively as a sack full of grasshoppers, as dripping with memory as a honeycomb. He’s an idealist, a gossip, intrigued as much by people as by facades and building fashions, perhaps more so. He loves associating buildings and spaces with their creators and linking the creators with their times. I think I might label him a pragmatic intellectual, or an intellectual pragmatist perhaps? 

He claims that he came to Wits in 1947, not knowing much about architecture. He thought it had more to do with town planning; more of a social discipline. In high school, when...

During mid-2019, an exceptional Anglo-Boer War (1899 – 1902) collection of artefacts went up on auction at a Johannesburg based auction house. Photographic images in this collection fetched high prices. However, images that high-end bidders did not pursue with the same vigour were magic lantern slides in the collection. Why would this be?

Anglo-Boer War – Posed images of Boer soldiers are less common compared to those of British soldiers.

Often ignored by collectors and researchers, or even misidentified in historical photograph collections, magic lantern slides have been described as having a less than authentic reputation? Is this a justified view?

In this article, the author briefly reflects on the history of the lantern slide as well as South African themed magic lantern slides. From the outset it needs to be stated that more research is required on the many facets of the South African lantern era.

Brief History of the magic lantern

Magic lanterns were in use long before the first photographic image, the daguerreotype, was produced during 1839.

The magic lantern was first described during 1659 by the Dutchman Christian Huygens. In a diagram attached to his notes, he showed the arrangement of a concave mirror behind the light source, a biconvex condensing lens, the slide, and a biconvex objective lens which became the...

The article below forms part of Mike Alfred's series on Joburg personalities from the first decade of the 21st century. Click here to view Kathy Munro's fantastic introduction and here to view the series index. The stories were written in 2005/6.

Mervyn King spoke to me in a conference room. I asked to see his office expecting it to offer clues to an outstanding career. It wasn’t special: not particularly large, certainly comfortable and expensively furnished, but not greatly different to any other functional space in the building. No memorabilia were evident, just piles of paper for a project on which he was slaving. I asked about the two eighteenth century naval prints hanging on one wall and was told that they were left over when the other executives had selected their art. King has aged well apart for a little off the top. His eyes are steely blue and he exudes a controlled energy. He’s undoubtedly wealthy. He tells me that he’s arranged to ‘die a poor man.’ His money lies in trusts for the family. His wife has to nag him to buy new suits and shirts although he looks immaculate. He collects wine and legal tomes. They’re bequeathed to the family. He loves his car, a Jag. Annual holidays are indulgent, but life largely comprises work.

Mervyn King, well known Joburg advocate, former judge and businessman, has spent much of his working life telling people how they might behave. It’s comforting to acknowledge therefore, that his ethos stems...

Roger Webster, storyteller, raconteur, heritage supporter, broadcaster and author passed away after a short illness on 6th January 2020. Roger was an enthusiast of South African heritage and history. 

Roger made a name for himself as a broadcaster of his series "Fireside Chats". His style was that of telling his tales to listeners around his metaphorical African bush campfire. He wrote his own scripts. His programme was popular on SAFM for many years. HIs voice was warm, friendly and enthralled listeners. He was at his best in using the cadences of his voice to convey mood, moment and drama in the history he told. People, past and present interested Roger.

After a career in mining and stockbroking, he looked to South African history to research, write and share his take on the past and what it meant for the present political dispensations. He conducted research to find unusual stories about the past. HIs goal was to share details about ordinary people, black and white, who performed amazing feats and who needed to be retrieved from the dim and distant past. Those little known curious tales interested Roger. He wanted a simple history we could all be proud of. He travelled far and wide In search of a character, a heritage site or buried event. Each story was an adventure and the telling was wrapped in his personality and his interpretation. He travelled widely in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Namibia.

Roger was the author of At the Fireside: True Southern African Stories, 5 volumes of his stories about South Africa's past and people published by Spearhead. I particularly liked...

The SAR&H Magazine (South African Railways and Harbours) traces its origin to the Natal Government Railways Lecture and Debating Society, formed in the early 1890s in Durban. In December 1904, John McConnachie, the Chairman of the Society and a District Superintendent of the Natal Government Railways (NGR), forwarded a suggestion by a colleague HC Richardson, in a letter to the Secretary, AH Tatlow:

It has been suggested to me that the time is rapidly approaching when a railway periodical should be started here, wherein officials could discuss railway affairs and interchange ideas.

Mr John McConnachie (1862-1936), Chairman of the NGR Lecture and Debating Society.

After consulting widely, both locally and internationally, Tatlow developed a proposal with likely production volumes and printing costs. The proposal was supported by the NGR General Manager, Sir David Hunter, culminating in the first monthly issue of the Natal Government Railways Magazine in October 1905, with Tatlow as editor. This issue, with a modest 20 pages, circulation of 1200 and costing a sixpence, marked the official start of railway journalism in South Africa.

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On the 5th December 2013, South Africa was shaken by the sad news of the passing of the “Father of the Nation”, the former President, Mr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. The beloved international icon of human rights, and reconciliation passed away after having suffered a long-standing lung infection. In commemoration of this towering figure, SAHRA takes a look at his extraordinary life through 6 national heritage sites that played a fundamental role in both Mandela and the Nation’s life.

Flowers on Nelson Mandela Square in 2013 (The Heritage Portal)

Humble Beginnings and Democratic Influences - Mqhekezweni

National Heritage Site declaration: 16 February 2018

UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List: 15 April 2015

Nelson Mandela was born on 18 July 1918 to Nonqaphi Nosekeni and Henry Mgadla Mandela, the local chief of Mvezo and chief councillor to the monarch of the abaThembu. Following a dispute with the Colonial Administration, in which Mandela’s father was stripped of his chieftainship, Mandela and his mother moved to Qunu in 1926.

Mandela’s father passed away when he was about 12 years old. Shortly thereafter he was taken to Mqhekezweni to stay with the Regent Jongintaba Dalindyebo. Jongintaba was appointed Regent after King Jongelizwe’s death, as his son...

During Heritage Month 2019 I gave a talk to a preservation group on the story of The Heritage Portal so far. Part of the presention involved unpacking some stats behind the platform. I always keep an eye on what stories are doing well week to week but I'd never done an overall look at the numbers. It was a lot of fun and I emerged from the research feeling deeply proud and humbled by the impact the Portal has had.

A massive thank you to all the contributors that have shared their fascinating stories over the years. By doing so you have played a vital role in preserving South Africa's heritage! Enjoy the quick numbers below:

• Founded: 2012
• Number of visitors / unique users: 1 132 795
• Busiest month: August 2019 - 41 814 unique users
• Average monthly users 2019: - +- 30 000
• Contributors: 258
• Articles: 763
• Notices: 2206
• Book Reviews: 133
• Threads: 227
• Images: 7742

Here is a list of the most read articles as well which is always interesting (click on the title to view):

1. Mining Headgears - Pure Functionality Ruling over Beauty (Peter Ball)
2. Rediscovering the 1947 Royal Visit to South Africa (Kathy Munro)
3. One of the most extraordinary archaeological and historical phenomena in Southern Africa (Peter Delius, Tim Maggs & Alex Schoeman)
4. A Brief History of Knysna from 1770 to 1890 (Philip Caveney)
5. The Grave Story of Rietfontein (Sizwe) Hospital (Naomi Dinur)
6. The Last Remaining Natural Waterfall in Johannesburg (William Gaul)
7. Sandton has a new tallest building! (James Ball)
8. A Brief History of Roads in South Africa (Peter...

In the article below, journalist Lucille Davie chats to leading figures from South Africa's heritage community to unpack the meaning of the term heritage. The article was originally published on the Brand South Africa website on 25 September 2013. Click here to view more of Davie's work.

Heritage is a hugely complex and nebulous concept, with its meaning and relevance varying from person to person.
 
The National Heritage Council of South Africa (NHC) is embarking on a project to involve the public in defining the concept. It offers the following as a starting point: "Heritage is what is preserved from the past as the living collective memory of a people not only to inform the present about the past but also to equip successive generations to fashion their future. It is what creates a sense of identity and assures rootedness and continuity, so that what is brought out by dynamism of culture is not changed for its own sake, but it is a result of people's conscious choice to create a better life."
 
The NHC is a statutory body falling under the Department of Arts and Culture. It is responsible for the preservation of the country's heritage. Established in 2004, its vision is to "build a nation proud of its African heritage". To this end it sets out to "transform, protect and promote South African heritage for sustainable development".
 
"We are committed to make knowledge about our heritage available to the public," says NHC chief executive...

Currently registered heritage bodies which are organised, funded and run by dedicated volunteers are battling against the lack of practical enforcement efforts by both Provincial Heritage bodies such as Heritage Western Cape as well as at Local Government Level in municipalities. 

In using the Western Cape as the example, which is supposedly the best run heritage body in the country, the picture reflects badly on all of the Western Cape Provincial Government, Heritage Western Cape and local municipalities such as Greater Oudtshoorn. 

The issue is one of a serious systemic failure at all levels of provincial and local government including outdated top down organisational structures with many political players still not appreciating the need for decentralisation and integrated multi-disciplinary management teams at all levels. 

Some Proposed Solutions

In considering practical solutions to the problems described above it is worth pointing out that in many cases effective enforcement of existing legislation and municipal by-laws, should and could be the first step in resolving many of the current outstanding issues.  

Currently Heritage Western Cape operates a centralised, top down outdated 20th Century structure which is highly bureaucratic. In addition, its major focus is on the Cape Town Metro and Winelands with little or no regard for the outlying regions such as the Southern Cape and Klein Karoo.

The above has been raised with Heritage Western Cape numerous times, including the submission of proposals in 2018 on a decentralised regional based structure with the provincial body being responsible for empowering the regions...