Symbolic Restitution: Post-Apartheid Changes to the South African Heritage Sector, 1994-2012

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to introduce the South African Heritage Resources Information System (SAHRIS), developed by the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) in 2011. The paper aims to describe how SAHRIS facilitates online applications for heritage approval and/or permits for developments and research, fulfils SAHRA’s mandate as a repository for a national inventory of heritage sites and objects in the country, and serves as an integrated, responsive tool for reporting heritage crimes and tracking the progress of the resultant cases. The paper also aims to explain, simply, the application processes for each of these functions. Design/methodology/approach – The paper provides an explanation of the design and functions of the system and outlines how each of the content types and applications are created. Findings – The system has improved the process of South African heritage resources management by decreasing the turnaround time for submissions to heritage authorities, raised the standards of good governance and increased public compliance with the heritage legislation. Practical implications – Poor uptake of the system by provincial heritage authorities has limited the impact of the system on heritage management as practiced in South Africa. Social implications – The system, when used effectively provides an efficient service to the public, while promoting good governance, transparency, public access to information and improved compliance with the heritage legislation. Originality/value – Through the creation of a single, unified platform for heritage management processes, geo-referencing of heritage sites and development areas, the provision of a national fossil sensitivity map, and the national heritage inventory, SAHRIS represents a world first in terms of proactive, integrated heritage management tools.

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SUMMARISING THE NATIONAL INVENTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA FOR THE PUBLIC AND ITS APPLICATION IN HERITAGE MANAGEMENT

ISPRS - International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences ◽

10.5194/isprs-archives-xlii-2-w5-521-2017 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol XLII-2/W5 ◽

pp. 521-524

Author(s):

N. Mlungwana ◽

C. Jackson

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

South African ◽

Public Awareness ◽

Heritage Management ◽

The South ◽

The Public ◽

National Inventory ◽

African Heritage ◽

National Heritage ◽

Subsequent Publication

This paper will focus on the national inventory of South Africa and application in heritage management. The South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) is mandated to compile and maintain an inventory of the national estate, defined as heritage resources of cultural and other significance as per Sections 3 and 39 of the National Heritage Resources Act. No.25 of 1999. This inventory is presented in a form of a database facilitated through the South African Heritage Resources Information System (SAHRIS). SAHRA is also mandated to produce a summary and analysis of this inventory of the national estate at regular intervals as per Section 39(7) of the NHRA. This inventory and its subsequent publication facilitate accountability for the institution, access to the data by the public as well as public awareness. The national inventory is populated through numerous digitisation projects by various heritage institutions namely museums, galleries, Provincial Heritage Resources Authorities (PHRA’s) and the public at large.

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Using SAHRIS a web-based application for creating heritage cases and permit applications

ISPRS - International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences ◽

10.5194/isprsarchives-xl-5-w7-337-2015 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol XL-5/W7 ◽

pp. 337-341 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

N. Mlungwana

Keyword(s):

South African ◽

Good Governance ◽

The South ◽

Web Based ◽

Online System ◽

African Heritage ◽

National Heritage ◽

Mining Law ◽

Governance Practice ◽

User Friendly

Since the inception of the South African Heritage Resources Information System (SAHRIS) in 2012, creating heritage cases and permit applications has been streamlined, and interaction with South African Heritage Authorities has been simplified. SAHRIS facilitates applications for development cases and mining applications that trigger the South African National Heritage Resources Act (Act 25 of 1999) and is able to differentiate between cases that require comment only, where the heritage process is subsidiary to environmental or mining law (Section 38(8)), and those where the heritage authority is the deciding authority (Section 38(1)). The system further facilitates cases related to site and object management, as well as permit applications for excavation, invasive research techniques and export of materials for research abroad in the case of archaeological or palaeontological specimens, or for sale or exhibition in the case of heritage objects. The integrated, easy to use, online system has removed the need for applicants to print out forms, take documents from one government department to the next for approval and other time-consuming processes that accompany paper-based systems. SAHRIS is a user friendly application that makes it easy for applicants to make their submissions, but also allows applicants to track the progress of their cases with the relevant heritage authority, which allows for better response rates and turnaround times from the authorities, while also ensuring transparency and good governance practice.

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A RISK BASED APPROACH TO HERITAGE MANAGEMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA

ISPRS - International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences ◽

10.5194/isprs-archives-xlii-2-w15-591-2019 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol XLII-2/W15 ◽

pp. 591-597

Author(s):

C. Jackson ◽

L. Mofutsanyana ◽

N. Mlungwana

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

South African ◽

Good Governance ◽

Integrated System ◽

Heritage Management ◽

The South ◽

Management Platform ◽

African Heritage ◽

Management Actions ◽

Tier System

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> The management of heritage resources within the South African context is governed by the National Heritage Resources Act, act 25 of 1999 (NHRA). This legislation calls for an integrated system of heritage management that allows for the good governance of heritage across the three tiers of government. The South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), as the national body responsible for heritage management, is mandated to compile and maintain an inventory of the national estate. The South African Heritage Resources Information System (SAHRIS) was designed to facilitate this mandate as well as provide a management platform through which the three-tiers of governance can be integrated. This vision of integrated management is however predicated on the implementation of the three-tier system of heritage management, a system which to date has not been fully implemented, with financial and human resource constraints being present at all levels. In the absence of the full implementation of this system and the limited resources available to heritage authorities, we argue that a risk based approach to heritage management will allow under resourced heritage authorities in South Africa to prioritise management actions and ensure mitigations are in place for at risk heritage resources. The aim of this paper is to position the inventory of the national estate as the key driver in the production of risk analysis models for an informed approach to heritage management.</p>

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SAHRIS: using the South African Heritage Register to report, track and monitor heritage crime

ISPRS - International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences ◽

10.5194/isprsarchives-xl-5-w7-395-2015 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol XL-5/W7 ◽

pp. 395-402 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

K. Smuts

Keyword(s):

South African ◽

Management Tool ◽

Monitoring Systems ◽

South African Context ◽

The South ◽

Resources Management ◽

African Heritage ◽

National Heritage ◽

Innovative Tool ◽

African Context

South Africa has experienced a recent increase in thefts of heritage objects from museums and galleries around the country. While the exact number of incidences is not known, the increase in thefts is nonetheless apparent, and has revealed the weaknesses of the systems currently in place to respond to these crimes. The South African Heritage Resources Information System (SAHRIS) is an integrated, online heritage resources management tool developed by the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) in 2011 in terms of Section 39 of the National Heritage Resources Act (NHRA), No. 25 of 1999. The system’s combined heritage resources and site and object management functionality has been expanded to provide an integrated, responsive tool for reporting heritage crimes and tracking the progress of the resultant cases. This paper reviews existing legislative frameworks and crime reporting and monitoring systems relevant to fighting heritage crime, and identifies current gaps in those responses. SAHRIS is presented as an innovative tool to combat heritage crime effectively in the South African context by offering a centralised, consolidated platform that provides the various stakeholders involved in reporting heritage crimes and locating and retrieving stolen objects with a means to coordinate their responses to such instances.

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