UNESCO adds sites in South Africa to World Heritage list
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has recently added more sites in South Africa to its prestigious World Heritage List. On 26 July 2024, the 46th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee proclaimed World Heritage status for two serial properties in South Africa, namely "The Human Rights, Liberation and Reconciliation: Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites" and "The Emergence of Modern Human Behaviour: The Pleistocene Occupation Sites of South Africa". The inscription of these two serial properties, increases South Africa's list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites to 12.
"The Human Rights, Liberation and Reconciliation: Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites"
The serial property represents the legacy of the South African struggle for human rights, liberation and reconciliation. It consists of fourteen component parts located around the country, all related to South Africa's political history in the 20th century. The sites include the following:
- The Union Buildings
- Constitution Hill
- Liliesleaf
- Sharpeville (comprising three component parts)
- Walter Sisulu Square
- 16 June 1976: The Streets of Orlando West
- University of Fort Hare and ZK Mathews House (comprising two component parts)
- Mqhekezweni
- Waaihoek
- Ohlange
"The Emergence of Modern Human Behaviour: The Pleistocene Occupation Sites of South Africa"
This serial property contributes to the understanding of the origin of behaviourally modern humans, their cognitive abilities and cultures, and the climatic transitions that they survived. It is composed of three dispersed archaeological sites: the Diepkloof Rock Shelter close to Elands Bay, the Pinnacle Point Site Complex in Mossel Bay (Western Cape) and the Sibhudu Cave in KwaDukuza (KwaZulu Natal).
