Over the past month or so, the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation and Friends of JAG (JHF/FOJ) have noted a number of social media posts and press statements from the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) and the City of Joburg (COJ) regarding the relocation of artworks from the Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG).

In the interests of clarity, JHF/FOJ wish to state that we do not support the JDA/COJ relocation plan in its current form. 

The JHF/FOJ are considering the appropriate next steps but wish to state that we cannot support the JAG relocation plan to Museum Africa in its current form and distance ourselves from the results should it go ahead. We would sincerely like to engage constructively with the city to find a mutually-agreeable solution that meets international best practice.

We would also like to note that no artwork may be removed from the JAG without the approval of the South African Heritage Resource Agency (SAHRA) and a properly constituted Art Gallery Committee (AGC), and we request that these reports be shared prior to any artworks being moved.

For additional information, please contact: JHF: david@joburgheritage.org.za or FOJ: friend@friendsofjag.org

Issued: 3 February 2026

To read the full JHF and FOJ media statement: https://joburgheritage.org.za/jhf-foj-response-to-jag-artworks-relocation-plan-proposed-by-jda/