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The Union Buildings have been declared an inscribed site by Unesco. (Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)
- Unesco added to its World Heritage Sites a list of South Africa's iconic sites on Saturday.
- The sites include the University of Fort Hare, where Nelson Mandela studied, and Ohlange in KwaZulu-Natal where the late struggle icon cast his vote in 1994.
- The Presidency has welcomed the inscription of the sites and asked the public to assist in safeguarding them.
Unesco has added to its World Heritage a list of South Africa's human rights and liberation struggle sites.
The inscription on Saturday follows the 46th session of the Unesco World Heritage Committee held in New Delhi, India, from 21 to 31 July.
The inscribed sites, termed as The Human Rights, Liberation and Reconciliation: Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites, are a serial property comprising 14 components that are located in four provinces and seven municipalities across the country.
They are the Union Buildings, Constitution Hill, Liliesleaf, Sharpeville (comprising three component parts), Walter Sisulu Square, 16 June 1976: The Streets of Orlando West, University of Fort Hare and ZK Mathews House (comprising two component parts), Mqhekezweni, Waaihoek and Ohlange.
Mqhekezweni is a village in Mthatha where Mandela grew up with relatives while Ohlange in KwaZulu-Natal is a place where he cast his first vote in a democratic South Africa in 1994.
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In a statement on Sunday, the Presidency said: "Collectively, this serial property demonstrates the events and ideas that served as the core of South Africa's liberation struggle, which continue to inspire humanity and the embrace of reconciliation, a quarter century later."
Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya added the 14 components exemplified strong memories and beliefs in the triumph of human rights, liberation and reconciliation.
"The Unesco World Heritage Committee further inscribed three middle stone-age sites as recognition of South Africa's significant contribution to the understanding of the origins of modern human behaviour.
"The second South African serial site inscribed is The Emergence of Modern Human Behaviour: The Pleistocene Occupation Sites of South Africa," said Magwenya.
The sites in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal are:
- Diepkloof Rock Shelter close to Elands Bay in the Western Cape.
- Pinnacle Point site complex in Mossel Bay, the Western Cape.
- Sibhudu Cave in KwaDukuza, KwaZulu-Natal.
"The inscription of these two serial properties, increases South Africa's list of World Heritage Sites to 12.
"The two newly inscribed properties join Robben Island, Vredefort Dome, Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape, Cape Floral Region Protected Areas, Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape and iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
"The Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains, Cradle of Humankind/Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa, Maluti Drakensberg Park and the Khomani Cultural Landscape.
"The Union Buildings joins global sites like the Kremlin, Kasubi Tombs, Mose oaThunya, Taj Mahal, The Vatican and others onto the World Heritage List," Magwenya said.
He added the Presidency expressed its "heartfelt gratitude" to Unesco for the honour bestowed on the country, its history and rich legacy.
"The Presidency also acknowledges the members of the Africa Group and most importantly, the African World Heritage Fund, which is an intergovernmental organisation created in 2006 by the African Union and Unesco to address challenges faced by African state parties in the implementation of the 1972 World Heritage Convention, specifically the underrepresentation of African sites on the World Heritage List and the insufficient conservation and management of these sites," said Magwenya.
Diepkloof Rock Shelter has been declared an inscribed three middle stone-age site by Unesco. (Ricardo Mackenzie/Facebook)
He added the fund was hosted by the government of South Africa on behalf of the African continent.
"The Presidency would like to recognise the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture team that worked tirelessly for months preparing this nomination and the contribution of the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape.
"The Presidency calls on all South Africans, spheres of government, management authorities and heritage stakeholders to work in a coordinated manner to ensure that these precious treasures of humanity are safeguarded and optimally deployed to meaningfully contribute to sustainable development in communities and further entrench the values of human rights, freedom, peace and reconciliation," Magwenya said.
