Latest news with #SouthAfricanHeritageResourcesAgency
The Citizen
29-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Historic Fochville site in danger as illegal dumping continues despite community pleas
The once-scenic veld behind the Gert van Rensburg Stadium in Fochville, Gauteng, is now an unofficial dumping ground, sparking outrage among residents. Despite multiple reports and pleas from the community, the Merafong City Local Municipality has yet to take any meaningful action. The area, known for its quiet beauty and cultural significance, contains the ruins of ancient Sotho-Tswana settlements, which date back over 300 years. According to research conducted by archaeologist Mark Steven Anderson in his 2009 doctoral thesis at the University of Cape Town, this region was home to a thriving community that farmed, herded cattle, and accepted refugees during a turbulent period of Southern African history. However, this vital piece of South Africa's pre-colonial heritage is now being buried beneath piles of building rubble and household waste. Shockingly, eyewitnesses have previously reported municipal vehicles contributing to the illegal dumping. 'We have asked the municipality so many times to help, but have given up because they just don't seem to want to do anything about the problem,' said Corne van der Merwe, a concerned resident. Another local, Johan Knell, highlighted the tragic irony: 'By the looks of it, thousands of people stayed here hundreds of years ago, and now no one seems to care.' Despite being made aware of the issue last year, and again recently, the Merafong City Local Municipality has not erected 'No Dumping' signs, fenced off the area, nor enforced any waste management bylaws. Calls and queries by the local media continue to go unanswered. Environmental degradation, public health concerns, and the irreversible loss of cultural heritage now hang in the balance. Why This Matters The site reflects the legacy of the Sotho-Tswana people, who lived in the area until the 1820s. It holds archaeological significance as a potential educational and tourism asset. Its current state could result in the permanent loss of historical artefacts and cultural knowledge. What needs to happen Residents are urging: Immediate clean-up of the site. Installation of no-dumping signs and surveillance. Intervention from the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) or relevant government departments. Recognition of the area as a protected heritage site. Until such measures are taken, the community fears that a unique piece of South Africa's history may be lost forever under heaps of waste. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The South African
27-05-2025
- Business
- The South African
Previously disputed Bo-Kaap hotel now approved for development
The City of Cape Town's mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis has now approved a proposed hotel development at 150 Buitengracht Street in Bo-Kaap. The site, a vacant lot on the boundary between the heritage-rich Bo-Kaap and Cape Town CBD, is near to Auwal Masjid, which is the oldest mosque and madrassah in South Africa and is of great heritage significance to the area and city. The plans for this hotel were previously met with some contention and concerns by residents of Bo-Kaap. Due to these concerns, the plans have had to undergo extensive revision with community input via a six-month engagement facilitated by the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA). 'This appeal concerns an application near to a Masjid that is of profound heritage significance to all of Cape Town. For that reason, this matter has been treated with great care, and has followed an exhaustive engagement process. Few, if any, other development proposals have gone through such extensive community consultation, and redesign.' Mayor Hill-Lewis said. Mayor Hill-Lewis said that the hotel plan revision resulted in a consensus that the building should be smaller, lower, and that intrusive overlooking features be removed. 'The proposed building began its journey as nine storeys, but will now be six storeys, with a front facade of three storeys onto Buitengracht St. This is much smaller than several nearby hotels.' he added. The facilitation process was conducted from December 2022 to May 2023 by a SAHRA team, which included heritage architects, heritage practitioners, historians, anthropologists, legal experts, as well as built environment experts. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
