[CPProt.net] How South Africa is losing its cultural treasures

[Ellie Bruggeman]

How SA is losing its cultural treasures

Valuable South African cultural treasures, including art works, 
firearms, furniture and archaeological artefacts, are being smuggled out 
of the country for foreign collectors.

According to South African Heritage Resources (Sahra) CEO Phakamani 
Buthelezi, the value of objects taken "ranges between R500 to R50 000, 
even to R100 000".

Speaking to the South African Press Association (Sapa) on Tuesday, he 
was reluctant to put a figure on the total value of cultural property 
that has been illegally exported, saying only "we are losing quite a lot".

A reliable source told Sapa the total figure is probably in the 
millions, although it is difficult to put a value on some of the 
artefacts, which could be considered "priceless".

Earlier on Tuesday, in a written reply to a parliamentary question, 
Minister of Arts and Culture Pallo Jordan said a strategy is being 
developed to halt the illegal trade.

Jordan said his department has begun an audit of "immovable and movable 
cultural properties in South Africa".

"The Department of Arts and Culture is working with ... the South 
African Police Service, Interpol and Sahra to come up with a coherent 
strategy to address law enforcement of heritage-related matters.

"[It] has recently embarked upon a comprehensive audit of immovable and 
moveable cultural properties in South Africa."

This will be completed in 2008, and will give a clear picture of the 
extent of cultural assets in the country, Jordan said.

Buthelezi said it is in the interest of Sahra -- the organisation tasked 
with the protection of the country's heritage -- to "have a system 
working with other bodies to stop this thing [illegal exports]".

He also called for closer cooperation with other Southern African states 
in this regard.

In terms of the National Heritage Resources Act of 1999, a permit is 
required to export or import so-called cultural property.

http://www.mg.co.za/