Heritage Western Cape (HWC) is a provincial heritage resources authority established by the Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport of the government of the Western Cape province in South Africa. It is a public entity set up under the terms of the National Heritage Resources Act.National Heritage Resources Act, Act 25 of 1999, Government Notice 506, Republic of South Africa Government Gazette, Vol. 406, No 19974, Cape Town, 28 April 1999
It is mandated to care for that part of South Africa's national estate that is of provincial and local significance in the Western Cape. It may delegate responsibility for heritage resources of local significance to competent municipal governments.Section26(1)(g), National Heritage Resources Act, Act 25 of 1999, Government Notice 506, Republic of South Africa Government Gazette, Vol. 406, No 19974, Cape Town, 28 April 1999
Heritage Western Cape is best known as the custodian of approximately 2,500 provincial heritage sites, but is also responsible for administration of other forms of protection of heritage established under the terms of the National Heritage Resources Act.
History
Heritage Western Cape is the successor body to the former National Monuments Council in the Western Cape. Under the 1996 Constitution of South Africa, cultural matters are a competency shared between national and provincial government.Schedule 4, Part A, Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act. 108 of 1996 This necessitated the creation of a system whereby many of the responsibilities of the former National Monuments Council were devolved to provincial level via the National Heritage Resources Act.
Whilst provinces may pass their own heritage conservation legislation, the Government of the Western Cape chose to use provisions of the National Heritage Resources Act which allow it to establish a provincial heritage resources authority (PHRA). Heritage Western Cape was hence established by regulation on 25 October 2002.Province of the Western Cape Provincial Gazette Extraordinary, No. 5937, Cape Town: 25 October 2002 In 2003 a Council was appointed by the province's Minister for Cultural Affairs and Sport and has since met on a quarterly basis.
The council has established a number of sub-committees which meet regularly to carry out the legal responsibilities of the organisation. For the most part this concerns the processing of almost 3 300 applications per annum for work on sites protected under the terms of the National Heritage Resources Act.Annual Report 2013/14, Cape Town, Heritage Western Cape, 2014
Heritage Western Cape inherited responsibility for approximately 2,500 former national monuments, now known as "provincial heritage sites".Section 58(11)(a), National Heritage Resources Act, Act 25 of 1999, Government Notice 506, Republic of South Africa Government Gazette, Vol. 406, No 19974, Cape Town, 28 April 1999 The National Heritage Resources Act provides for a greater variety of protection than did its predecessor and the organisation has continued to institute protections of various forms under its terms.Compare Chapter II, Parts 1 & 2 of the National Heritage Resources Act, Act 25 of 1999, Government Notice 506, Republic of South Africa Government Gazette, Vol. 406, No 19974, Cape Town, 28 April 1999 with Section 10 of the National Monuments Act, Act 28 of 1969 as amended to 1979 A large part of this work is dedicated to transforming the heritage landscape of the Western Cape to ensure that the heritage of all its people enjoys equal recognition and appropriate protection.See: Vision and Mission, p3, Annual Report 2012/13, Cape Town, Heritage Western Cape, 2013
The logo of the organisation was launched by the provincial Minister for Cultural Affairs and Sport on 13 May 2006.
SAHRA and HWC's mandate Heritage Western Cape is subject to a biennial assessment of competency by the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) in terms of which it is determined which aspects of the National Heritage Resources Act it is qualified to implement.Section 8(6), National Heritage Resources Act, Act 25 of 1999, Government Notice 506, Republic of South Africa Government Gazette, Vol. 406, No 19974, Cape Town, 28 April 1999 It has been assessed as competent to deal with all areas over which a provincial heritage resources authority is permitted to act, aside from Section 36 of the Act which covers certain aspects relating to graves and burials.
To clarify areas of uncertainty regarding mandate, representatives of Heritage Western Cape meet quarterly with SAHRA. Following a court case that created uncertainty regarding responsibility for sites that have been recognised as Grade I by SAHRA, but which have not yet been declared as national heritage sites, a memorandum of understanding has been concluded which allows Heritage Western Cape to deal with all such matters unless they concern archaeological sites and graves protected under Sections 35 and 36 of the National Heritage Resources Act.High Court of South Africa – Cape of Good Hope Division, Waenhuiskrans Arniston Ratepayers Association and Heritage Western Cape vs. Verrewiede Eiendomsontwikkeling (Edms) Bpk and the Cape Agulhas Municipality, Case No. 1926/2008Memorandum of Agreement Concluded by and Between The South African Heritage Resources Agency and Heritage Western Cape, 25 September 2012
Categories of heritage resources under HWC
Heritage Western Cape is responsible for sites that fall within the following categories:Section3(2), National Heritage Resources Act, Act 25 of 1999, Government Notice 506, Republic of South Africa Government Gazette, Vol. 406, No 19974, Cape Town, 28 April 1999
Buildings and structures of architectural, historical, technical and aesthetic value Places to which oral traditions or intangible values are attached Historical settlements and towns Landscapes and natural features Geological sites Archaeological sites Palaeontological sites Rock art sites Battlefields Graves and burial grounds Sites associated with slavery Living heritage (Intangible cultural heritage)
Council and committees
Heritage Western Cape is governed by a Council which is appointed by the province's Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport.Regulation 2, Province of the Western Cape Provincial Gazette Extraordinary, No. 5937, Cape Town: 25 October 2002 It consists of up to 14 members appointed for a three-year term of office.Regulations 2(8) and 2(12), Province of the Western Cape Provincial Gazette Extraordinary, No. 5937, Cape Town: 25 October 2002 The council meets quarterly and has established an executive committee to manage its business between its meetings. The executive is chaired by the chairperson of the council and is otherwise made up of the chairpersons of standing sub-committees.Section 2.b.i. Heritage Western Cape: Policy on Committees of Council, 2013
The terms of office of the present Council and its sub-committees expire on 31 October 2023.
There are five standing sub-committees which oversee aspects of the day-to-day business of the organisation. They are made up of specialists who are recognised for their expertise and experience in the areas of business of the committees on which they serve.
Built Environment and Landscapes Committee (BELCOM)
Established in 2003, it considers permit applications relating to structures and landscapes that are provincial heritage sites, provisionally protected, on the register of heritage resources, public monuments or memorials, or older than 60 years. Applications to work on such sites are assessed by the committee to consider whether or not they should be approved. The committee meets monthly.
Archaeological, Palaeontological and Meteorites Permit Committee (APM) Applications to work on archaeological and palaeontological sites and meteorite permit applications in the province are considered by the APM Committee. It also considers applications concerning provincial heritage sites, provisionally protected sites and sites on the register of heritage resources that have been protected for their archaeological or palaeontological value. The committee also advises the IACom regarding impact assessments on archaeological, palaeontological and meteorite resources. The committee meets monthly.
Impact Assessment Committee (IACom)
Established in 2010 it is responsible for considering impact assessments that are submitted to Heritage Western Cape under the terms of the National Heritage Resources Act, the National Environment Management Act, or The Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act. The committee meets monthly.
Appeals Committee Established in 2003 this Committee deals with appeals made against decisions taken by the committees and staff of Heritage Western Cape. The committee meets monthly. (There is a further right of appeal to a tribunal established by the provincial Minister for Cultural Affairs and Sport.)Section 49(2), National Heritage Resources Act, Act 25 of 1999, Government Notice 506, Republic of South Africa Government Gazette, Vol. 406, No 19974, Cape Town, 28 April 1999
Inventories, Gradings and Interpretations Committee (IGIC) This committee was established in 2012 via amalgamation of three sub-committees. It considers and makes recommendations to the council on grading of heritage resources; adoption of inventories of heritage resources submitted to Heritage Western Cape by municipalities and conservation bodies; formal protection of sites as provincial heritage sites or placement on the 'register' and texts for the interpretation of heritage sites. The committee meets quarterly.
Office Bearers
Source:HWC Annual Reports 2003-2014, Heritage Western Cape, Cape Town
Chairperson of Council
Dr Janette Deacon: March 2003 – July 2007 Dr Mthobeli Guma: August 2007 – July 2010 Adv Ronee Robinson: August 2010 – July 2013 Ms Laura Robinson: September 2013 – October 2016 Dr Antonia Malan: November 2016 – October 2020 Mr Bongani Mgijima: November 2019 – October 2023 Ms Reyhana Gani: November 2022 - present Heritage Western Cape, Committees, The Council of Heritage Western Cape https://www.hwc.org.za/committees (last consulted on 26 June 2025)
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Source:HWC Annual Reports 2003-2015, Heritage Western Cape, Cape Town
Dr Stephen Townsend: April 2006 – September 2007 Mr Andrew Hall: January 2011 – March 2015 Dr Mxolisi Dlamuka: March 2016 – November 2020 Mr Michael Janse van Rensburg: July 2021 – presentNotice 12 of 2021 Heritage Western Cape, New Chief Executive Officer, 2 July 2021
Staff complement Heritage Western Cape is managed by a chief executive officer (CEO) who is assisted by a deputy director.Regulation 9, Province of the Western Cape Provincial Gazette Extraordinary, No. 5937, Cape Town: 25 October 2002 It has the following sections: administrative support, professional services (responsible for processing application) and policy and planning responsible for policy development, research and inventories). The latter two are made up of professional archaeologists, architects, historians and planners.
In terms of delegations from the council the staff deal with areas of responsibility of the organisation not covered by the committees, mainly the processing of applications for minor work on heritage resources.Regulation 11(1)(c), Regulation 10(1), Province of the Western Cape Provincial Gazette Extraordinary, No. 5937, Cape Town: 25 October 2002 The staff also provides support to and makes recommendations to the council and its sub-committees.See minutes of committee meetings posted on the HWC website
Provincial heritage sites