South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA)
Contact: John Gribble Email jgribble@sahra.org.za
Jonathan Sharfman Email sharfman@icon.co.za
Website: http://sahra.org.za/
SAHRA’s Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage (MUCH) Unit is tasked with protecting and managing South Africa’s maritime and underwater cultural heritage. The Unit manages maritime and underwater cultural heritage resources along the entire South African coast, as well as in and around inland waters such as lakes, rivers and dams. This includes site inspections and site monitoring. The Unit processes applications for permits to conduct activities on shipwrecks sites or for activities that may affect sites. In addition, it assesses and comments on Environmental and Heritage Impact Assessments and is available to answer queries from the public in relation to maritime and underwater cultural heritage. The Unit strives to expand the traditional view of maritime and underwater cultural heritage management by promoting a broad and representative range of sites through activities. Its aims are to bring maritime and underwater cultural heritage management in South Africa into the heritage mainstream, showcase the shared nature and universal significance of this exciting heritage resource and raise public awareness of an aspect of our national heritage which is often overlooked and ignored because much of it is hidden beneath the waves.
Vision
A nation united through heritage
Mission
- Our Mission in fulfilling our mandate of promoting social cohesion in our country by: Identification, conservation and management of heritage resource in South Africa so that they can contribute to socio-economic development and nation building;
- Developing norms, standards and charters for the management of heritage resource in South Africa and codes of international best practice; and
- Contributing to skills and knowledge production and transformation in heritage resources management in South Africa and beyond.
Values
- Accountability
- Teamwork and cooperation
- Respect
- Transparency
- Service excellence
- Integrity & ethics
- Honesty
- Accessibility
- Professionalism
Legislative and other Mandates
South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) is a statutory organization established under the National Heritage Resources Act, No 25 of 1999, as the national administrative body responsible for the protection of South Africa’s cultural heritage. SAHRA, as an Agency of the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC), has been tasked to manage and implement the National Heritage Resources Act (NHRA) of 1999.