Two Western Cape sites are currently lining up for World Heritage status.
The 46th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee is deliberating on the two nominated sites, namely Diepkloof Rock Shelter close to Elands Bay and Pinnacle Point Site Complex in Mossel Bay.
Diepkloof Rock Shelter. Picture / Sourced
Currently taking place in New Delhi, the session will end on the 31st of July. Delegates from the Western Cape Government, as well as colleagues from other provinces and national government are in attendance.
Following years of rigorous stakeholder engagement and international evaluation, South Africa has put forward three nominations this year. Should they be successful, the sites will be protected under the World Heritage Convention. They will also be inscribed on the World Heritage List.
Titled ‘The Emergence of Modern Human Behaviour: The Pleistocene Occupation Sites of South Africa’, the nomination includes three Middle Stone Age sites. They play a vital role in contributing significant evidence for understanding the origins of modern human behaviour. The third site is KwaZulu-Natal’s Shibudu Cave in KwaDukuza.
Western Cape MEC for Cultural Affairs and Sport, Ricardo Mackenzie, referred to the sites as archeological treasures which are a symbol of resilience and creativity.
‘They remind us of the importance of preserving our cultural and natural heritage for future generations. It is incredible to imagine the early humans who lived in and passed through these places.’
Mackenzie also expressed his excitement for the potential boost in tourism and economic development which the World Heritage status could bring.
Premier Alan Winde added that the Western Cape is privileged to have an abundance of cultural offerings.
‘We must make full use of their significance to deepen our collective knowledge, but also harness their potential to further our economic growth to create many more jobs in this space,’ he said.
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