The South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) is calling for public participation in the effort to designate seven kramats as national heritage sites – five of which are located along the Atlantic seaboard.
In 2021, eight kramats were declared national heritage sites (“Kramat declared national heritage sites”, December 9, 2021).
“We decided to do it in phases and this is the second phase, and next year will be the third and final phase,” said Quahnita Samie, heritage consultant at heritage resources management firm, Vidamemoria.
She said they had applied for all the kramats to get national heritage status but there were too many to do in one go, which is why it’s being done in phases.
“We (Vidamemoria) are part of the nomination for the kramats to be recognised as national heritage sites, we undertake the process for the Cape Mazaar Society and we oversee the nomination on their behalf, for example we do the identification and the research to establish the heritage designation,” she said.
According to Yusuf Dalwai, the Cape Mazaar Society’s public relations officer, the primary goal of the Cape Mazaar Society is to maintain the shrines of Muslim saints in the Western Cape and to spread the teachings of these saints.
“The preservation of heritage is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it helps us understand and appreciate our past and the Islamic, cultural, social, and economic developments that have shaped our nation. It empowers us to connect with our roots and to learn from the experiences of these great personalities, the Auliya (friends of Allah),” said Mr Dalwai.
He adds that heritage sites are often of significant religious, cultural, historical, and scientific value.
“Finally, preserving heritage is important for promoting cultural diversity and fostering a sense of community and belonging. By protecting and promoting our shared cultural heritage, we can build stronger, more inclusive societies that are better equipped to face contemporary challenges,” he said.
Ben Mwasinga, the senior manager for heritage conservation at SAHRA, says they have been involved with the nomination of the kramats since 2018 and expect there to be a third phase.
“A dossier has to be submitted to SAHRA’s Grading and Declaration Review Committee (GDRC) which then makes a recommendation to the SAHRA council and then they make the final decision, and this could take six months in an ideal world, but we have to consider there could be objections or disputes so that lengthens the process,” said Mr Mwasinga.
“The Cape Mazaar Society and Quahnita do the indepth research about the kramats. There is little information about the kramats so they need to have the spatial information, the erf number, the lines of latitude and longitude which is part of the dossier that they submit to the GDRC. The first phase of the kramats becoming national heritage sites was a smooth process but still we have to consider that there could be disputes,” he said.
“Once the public participation ends (October 25) then it is submitted to the SAHRA council with the proof that the process is done and that there are no objections to this declaration,” he said.
The following kramats have been selected for national heritage status:
- Sheikh Abdul Kader in Vredehoek
- Sayed Jaffer in Oude Kraal
- Sheikh Ali Sayed Bassier in Camps Bay
- Sayed Abdul Malik in Oranjezicht
- Sayed Abdul Haq in Vredehoek
- Shaykh Hazrat Khwaja Sayed Ali Shah in Maitland
- Sayed Abdul Aziz in Muizenberg
The public is encouraged to submit comments or objections to the proposed declaration on www.sahra.org.za by Wednesday October 25.
