Heritage Cases

This Heritage Crime Report refers to statements made by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in a published statement (dated 16 December 2020) and by Vuyani Pambo (EFF) and Mbuyiseni Ndlozi (EFF) respectively, on 16 December 2020, regarding the Battle of Blood River (1838) and associated historical events. The case is reported to SAHRA and AMAFA, in terms of the National Heritage Resources Act, No 25 of 1999 [NHRA 1999], with the site in question being Provincial Heritage Site 9/2/447/0001 – Blood River Battlefield, KZN, and with concerns being summarized as the negative impact that the accused’s statements may have / had on the conservation and cultural heritage significance of the site, the living heritage associated therewith, and the principles of heritage management as stipulated in Sections 5(1) and 5(7) of the NHRA 1999. It is consequently requested that the accused provides information (presentation), in terms of the NHRA 1999, Section 51(5)(a), to the reportee, ArchaeoMaps, of the relevant research, documentation, recordings etc. that have been obtained / used / referenced in said statements (16 December 2020), in terms of Section 5(7)(f) of the NHRA 1999, including the statement issued by the EFF and statements made by Vuyani Pambo (EFF) and Mbuyiseni Ndlozi (EFF). It is further requested that the presentation pertinently address the accused’s statements made on 16 December 2020 with direct reference to the NHRA 1999, Section 5(1)(d) “Heritage resources management must guard against the use of heritage for sectarian purposes or political gain.” The above information is requested with cognisance that no formal consent or authority from SAHRA or the relevant PHRA (AMAFA) was required for purposes of the accused’s heritage statements [NHRA 1999, Section 51(5)(b)], albeit therein not indemnifying any person / entity / organization from reasonable request for information to assert the truth or falsehood of such statements or representations. It is requested that this inquiry for information be addressed within three (3) calendar months, being 23 April 2021, from the date of submission of this report (22 January 2021) on SAHRIS, being the date on which SAHRA / AMAFA is to formally indicate whether or not the case reported will be further pursued by them in accordance with their mandate. This report is made to SAHRA and AMAFA, mandatory responsible for the implementation of the NHRA 1999, directly on SAHRIS, and without any contact with the accused’s office.