presented by: 26 february 2014

An agency of the Department of Arts and Culture

Presented by:

26 FEBRUARY 2014

SAHRA PRESENTATION TO THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE

FORMAL PROTECTION OF DISTRICT SIX

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PURPOSE OF THE PRESENTATION

The purpose of this presentation is to brief the Portfolio Committee and update on progress on the

Formal Protection of District Six

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PREAMBLE

Our Heritage and Culture:

•Encourage communities to nurture and conserve their legacy;

•Define cultural identity;

•Lies at the heart of our spiritual well-being;

• Have power to build our nation;

•Have potential to affirm our diverse cultures;

•Shape our national character;

•Celebrate our achievements; and

•Contributes to redressing past inequities

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NHRA Act 25 of 1999

• SAHRA provides for the identification, conservation, protection and

promotion of our heritage resources for present and future generations.

• The aim of National Heritage Resources Act of 1999 (NHRA) is:

– To introduce an integrated approach to heritage resources

management

– To create an interactive system for the management of our heritage

resources

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HRM APPROACH

• To protect and conserve the national estate;

• Develop norms and standards for heritage resources management

• Strengthen relationship with all key stakeholders of the heritage sector;

• Inclusion of communities in the management of heritage resources

• Capacity building of local communities

• Nation building and Social cohesion

• Potential for local economic development

• Promotion of tourism

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PRESENTATION DISTRICT 6

• HISTORICAL BACKGROUND• PROGRESS ON THE PROCESS

• GRADING

• SUBMISSION FOR PROVISIONAL PROTECTION

• OBJECTIONS

• FURTHER ENGAGEMENTS• LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

• CHALLENGES

• CONCLUSION

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HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

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District Six was named for the sixth municipal district of the city Cape Town, in1867. The District, which is thought to have its origins in the early I 840s, was madeup of a diverse population that cris-crossed the barriers of race, class and ethnicity.

The residents of the District included the descendants of freed slaves, artisans,merchants and immigrants. A vibrant centre with close links to the port of CapeTown, the District flourished as a community numbering some 50,000 people by theearly 1900s.

By the early 1960s the District had 16 churches, 17 schools and trainingcolleges and 4 thriving community centers and was home to a considerablecommunity of artists, educators, intellectuals, writers, musicians and politicalactivists. Some of South Africa's most distinguished artists, activists and politiciansgrew up in District Six. Both documentary evidence and memory characterize theDistrict as a community in the most inclusive and positive sense of the term.


IDENTIFICATION AND GRADING

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• In 2004 SAHRA graded District 6 as a Grade I site.

• SAHRA engaged the following parties:

– Heritage practitioners ,

– Owners and tenants

– Interested and affected parties for the declaration as prescribed by Section 27 (8) (d)

of the legislation

• Distributed letters on the 1 November 2010.

• A public meeting was held on 25 November 2010

An agency of the Department of Arts and Culture 9

PROVISIONAL PROTECTION

• SAHRA prepared a submission for the Provisional Protection of a section of District 6 which was under threat

• Due to a range of issues such as

– ownership,

– developmental rights and

– the issue around buildings that were not older than sixty years it was

not given effect to.


OBJECTIONS

• Concerns around implications around declaration:

– Loss of ownership– Developmental constraints– Cultural Significance of sections of District 6– Interpretation of the management level of Section 34 buildings – Concerns around existing buildings that are not older than 60 years– Land claims – Future development of the site– Concerns around the extent and content of the Grade I boundary– The management of plan applications– Property values

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FURTHER ENGAGEMENTS

• SAHRA continuously comments on Applications regarding Sections 34 and 38 (because of Grade I status)

• The District 6 Museum submitted a Draft CMP to SAHRA with an emphasis on social values of the site

– SAHRA advised that further work was required

• SAHRA responded to a request for an update from D6 Museum

• Meeting held with CEO of D6 Museum

• Grading and Declarations Review Meeting held at D6 Museum

– Indicated shortcomings in CMP

– Issues of boundaries revisited

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LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

• Notification of property owners

• Mortgage holders

• Occupants / Tenents

• Consent by owners

• Comment by I&AP’s

• Engaging other affected heritage authorities and

• Conservation bodies

• Clearly demarcated boundaries and erf numbers

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CHALLENGES

• Size of the site

• Developmental pressure

• Multiple stakeholder interests

• Development of integrated management plan

• Demarcation of site boundaries

• Land claims

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The Way Forward

• Finalisation of the ICMP

– The ICMP serves as a self-management tool of the site

– Environmental, social, economic, spatial and material integration

• Surveying the site / Site inventory

• Identify core area

• Re-mapping of the site / Determine boundaries

• Consent from landowners / stakeholders

• Submission to SAHRA Council

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District 6 Grade 1 Area

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District 6 Grade 1 Area

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An agency of the Department of Arts and Culture 17

Thank You!

presented by: 26 february 2014

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