Heritage Cases

The South African Heritage Resources Agency is the National Heritage Body established in terms of the National Heritage Resources Act (NHRA) No. 25 of 1999, mandated to co – ordinate, promote and set norms and standards for the management of heritage resources in South Africa in accordance with the National Heritage Resources Act No 25 of 1999; The South African Police Service is a National Department of the Government of the Republic of South Africa who is mandated to manage the control of firearms in terms of the Firearms Control Act, Act 60 of 2000 and the Firearms Control Regulations 2004. Section 149 of the Firearms Control Act read with Regulation 104 (5) of the Firearms Control Legislation, stipulate that a firearm may only be destroyed with the written consent of the Registrar and in compliance with the provisions of the NHRA or its nominated agents. In terms of section 32 (1) of the Act, SAHRA declared through Government Gazette Notice 23952 of 2002 a list of Types of Heritage Objects that are deemed to be protected. At regulation 5 of the Gazette Notice, items relating to South African history, including the history of science and technology, military and social history, as well as to the life of peoples and national leaders, thinkers and scientists and artists and to events of national importance. Firearms of heritage value are therefore deemed to be protected and any request for deactivation, destruction, alteration or export should be referred to SAHRA to assess the heritage value of such firearms. After assessment SAHRA would inform SAPS if such a firearm is of heritage significance and recommend whether destruction, deactivation, alteration and export should be granted. In North West 200 firearms will be destroyed and therefore SAPS has requested SAHRA to assist with the assessment of these firearms to determine its heritage significance. SAHRA appointed Mr. George Black and Mr. Riaan Smith to conduct the assessment on behalf of SAHRA in North West and to provide SAHRA with an assessment report.