Vision
“To be the leading agent for the preservation, protection and promotion of the South African heritage, both tangible and intangible, for sustainable development”
Mission
- Co-ordinate heritage management informed by stakeholder consultation and engagement;
- Provide a transformation strategy and framework for the heritage sector to embrace South Africa’s diverse heritage in the interest of national identity;
- To facilitate the development of heritage policies through consultations and partnerships with key sector role players;
- Advise the Minister of Arts and Culture on heritage policies and other heritage matters;
- Play a leading role in the establishment of policy for the repatriation of South African heritage resources;
- Promote, mainstream and foreground living heritage with particular emphasis on Ubuntu as a resource for nation building;
- Provide a framework for the sustainable use of heritage resources in social development to unlock the economic potential of South Africa’s national heritage; and
- Facilitate the establishment of strategic partnerships with heritage stakeholders and role-players nationally, regional and internationally.
Constitutive Act and Legislative Mandate
The National Heritage Council, a Schedule 3A public entity that came into existence through an amendment of the Cultural Laws Second Amendment Act 69 of 2001, was officially constituted through the National Heritage Council Act 11 of 1999, assented to on 14 April 1999 and officially proclaimed on 26 February 2004.
Objects of Council
The objects of the Council are: - to develop, promote and protect the national heritage for present and future generations;
- to co-ordinate heritage management;
- to protect, preserve and promote the content and heritage which reside in ‘orature’ in order to make it accessible and dynamic;
- to integrate living heritage with the functions and activities of the Council and all other heritage authorities and institutions at national, provincial and local level;
- to promote and protect indigenous knowledge systems, including but not limited to enterprise and industry, social upliftment, institutional framework and liberatory processes; and
- to intensify support for the promotion of the history and culture of all our peoples and particularly to support research and publication on enslavement in South Africa.
Functions, powers and duties of Council
The following are the functions of the Council that are derived from the NHC Act of 1999: The Council must – - advise the Minister on –
- national policies on heritage matters, including indigenous knowledge systems, living treasures, restitution and other relevant matters; and
- any other matter concerning heritage which Minister may from time to time determine.
- advise the minister on the allocation of core funding to the declared cultural institutions;
- investigate ways and means of affecting the repatriation of South African heritage objects presently being held by foreign governments, public and private institutions and individuals;
- make grants to any person, organisation or institution in order to promote and develop national heritage activities and resources;
- coordinate activities of public institutions involved in heritage management in an integrated manner to ensure optimum use of State resources;
- monitor and coordinate the transformation of the heritage sector, with special emphasis on the development of living heritage projects;
- consult and liaise with relevant stakeholders on heritage matters;
- generally support, nurture and develop access to institutions and programmes that promote and bring equity to heritage management;
- promote awareness of the history of all our peoples, including the history of enslavement in South Africa;
- lobby in order to secure funding for heritage management and to create a greater public awareness of the importance of our nation’s heritage;
- perform such duties in respect of its objects as the Minister may assign to it.
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