Question NW74 to the Minister of Arts and Culture
25 February 2019 - NW74
Grootboom, Mr GA to ask the Minister of Arts and Culture
With reference to the tragedy of the devastation at culturally historical town Wupperthal by a fire recently, how will his department assist in rebuilding this cultural site?
Reply:
The Wupperthal Moravian Mission station was declared a conservation area in 1999 under the National Monuments Act, Act No 28 of 1969. The act was repealed and replaced by the National Heritage Resources Act (NHRA), Act no 25 of 1999 in terms of which the management and safeguarding of South Africa’s tangible and intangible heritage is shared between the three spheres of Government. Heritage Western Cape is the Provincial Heritage Resources Agency (PHRA) responsible for safeguarding the heritage conservation of the Moravian Church in Wupperthal.
Heritage Western Cape is working closely with the Moravian Church, who owns the property, the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements, and the Cederberg Municipality in order to monitor the restoration work which is currently underway. Heritage Western Cape has visited the site as part of oversight. The South African Heritage Resource Agency (SAHRA) an entity of the Department of Arts and Culture stands ready to assist on this matter whichever way possible.