Eight Places in District Six declared as National Heritage Sites

Eight sites in District Six have been declared National Heritage Sites. The announcement was gazetted by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture. 

They declared Seven Steps, the Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church parish centre and convent, the Moravian Church, Zeenatul-Islam Masjid, Al Azhar Mosque, Trafalgar High School, Harold Cressy High School and the Jewish Cemetery as nationally protected as part of the first phase of areas to be declared Heritage Sites. 


Ben Mwasinga, senior manager of heritage conservation management at SA Heritage Resources Agency (Sahra), said that Vidamemoria Heritage Consultants, one of Sahra's partner organizations, was crucial in providing the essential study on all the sites.


“Most importantly, the sites were chosen because these are the remaining existing buildings that were not demolished during the forced removals,” he said.


He added that the sites also represented the “existing historical fabric of District Six.” 



Done By: Thaakiera Ackerdien 


PICTURE: Destruction of District Six following the Group Areas Act. 
Source: SA History Online 

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