Question NW1720 to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

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18 August 2020 - NW1720

Profile picture: Graham, Ms SJ

Graham, Ms SJ to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

(1)Whether her department collaborates with the SA Heritage Resources Agency whenever national monuments are being renovated and/or refurbished; if not, what steps are being taken to ensure the integrity of national monuments; (2) whether, in view of client departments being responsible for day to day maintenance and repairs on national monuments, the user asset management plan requires that specialist heritage architects and contractors be appointed to do the work; if not, why is this principle not being implemented; if so, is there a database of heritage architects and contractors?

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

(1) With the promulgation of the National Heritage Resources Act, no 25, 1999, and with reference to Section 58 (11 )(a), all monuments declared as 'National Monuments' under the previous National Monuments Act, are now classified as "Provincial Heritage Sites" and are therefore subject to heritage management under the 'provincial heritage resource authorities' in their respective provinces. These 'Provincial Heritage Sites' are thus no longer subject to heritage management under the SAHRA.

Sites now declared to be of 'national significance', under the provisions of the National Heritage Resources Act, are declared 'National Heritage Sites', also termed, 'Grade 1 Heritage Sites'. This replaces the previous designation of 'National Monument' with 'National Heritage Site'. Furthermore, 'National Heritage Sites' are independently owned and only some fall under the title of Public Works and Infrastructure. These include the Union Buildings, 120 Plein Street in Cape Town, the Houses of Parliament, Tuynhuys, the Castle of Good Hope, Constitution Hill precinct and Freedom Park.

In this context, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, do engage with the SAHRA during the planning and execution phases of renovation projects on these sites. This ensures that intervention and restoration work is carried out in compliance with the National Heritage Resources Act and in line with each site's Conservation Management Plan. For example, planning for restoration work at the Union Buildings is underway and regular engagement occurs with the SAHRA in the obtaining of permit approvals to carry out the work.

(2) User Asset Management Plans (UAMPs) require compliance with all legislationincluding the National Heritage Resources Act. The South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP), however, provides no separate classification for 'heritage architect'. Neither is there an official classification for 'heritage contractor'. Architects by virtue of their registration as a professional architect with SACAP, are deemed to possess the necessary competency to address heritage requirements for projects. It is therefore, not required that DPWI keep a database of 'heritage architects'.

The DPWI, when carrying out 'Planned Maintenance' and 'Repair & Renovation' projects on heritage buildings, irrespective of their cultural heritage significance, often appoint a 'heritage practitioner' as part of the project's professional consultant team. Required by the National Heritage Resources Act, all DPWl's projects on heritage buildings include the required heritage study and a permit application to the relevant provincial heritage authority - or the SAHRA, in the case of National Heritage Sites. DPWl's Heritage Advisory Services, provides input/advice to DPWI staff, client departments, consultants and contractors, to ensure that they are well informed.

Day-to-Day maintenance work, is the responsibility of each client department. This work is utilitarian in nature and carried out as and when needed; for example, the replacement of a tap washer. These types of services do not require heritage expertise. By default, an official appointed by a client department to manage day­to-day maintenance, should be suitably qualified to make correctjudgments, to know that, for example, should a section of an historic gable collapse, specialist input by an architect and heritage practitioner would be necessary and furthermore, that an experienced contractor would need to be appointed to effect the repair appropriately. Only in exceptional cases, is specialised restoration work needed, for example, a requirement for a stonemason. Such expertise is appointed through the standard supply chain processes of the Department. Tender requirements can include allowance for scoring for specialist heritage experience, to assist in procuring a suitably experienced contractor or artisan.

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