HERITAGE ASSOCIATION
OF SOUTH AFRICA
We see a South Africa that celebrates and protects its interwoven past to the betterment of all our people.
Who we are
The Heritage Association of South Africa is the voice of conservation bodies from around the country dedicated to conserving the national estate. With our roots in the Simon van der Stel Foundation, we are the largest and oldest conservation lobby group in South Africa. While the Simon van der Stel Foundation originally focused on the conservation of historic, colonial architecture, we’ve grown our focus over the past three decades to include cultural heritage in all its diverse forms and from across the country’s diverse communities.
An endangered heritage
South Africa has a rich and diverse cultural heritage spanning millennia. However, two decades after the enactment of the National Heritage Resources Act (Act 25 of 1999), heritage conservation is languishing in a deeply compromised state. The South African Heritage Resources Agency has faced consecutive leadership crises, with only KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape having a semblance of coherent provincial policy and institutional capacities in place, as envisaged in the Act, while not a single municipality has the mandated competency to manage local heritage. Various other provisions of the Act have similarly not been fulfilled. These are some of the challenges that the Heritage Association of South Africa seeks to overcome.
Our mission
To be a respected and independent voice advocating for the research, promotion and conservation of the national estate.
What we do
The Heritage Association of South Africa carries out a number of roles and functions:
It provides forums and other means of communication to share information and knowledge.
It represents and advocates on behalf of our associates at a national level.
LATEST NEWS
HASA Middelburg 2025 Symposium Circular No.4
This year’s ‘Historical Middelburg, the gateway to history’ symposium takes place between the 13 – 16 October 2025. Information regarding submissions and presentations, important dates, and the preliminary list of papers is available via the fourth circular below....
HASA Middelburg 2025 Symposium Circular
The theme for this year's symposium is 'Historical Middelburg, the gateway to history' and takes place between the 13 - 16 October 2025. Information regarding submissions and presentations, important dates, symposium itinerary, and costs are available via the third...
Middelburg Symposium 2025
Railway Station-Middleburg postcard by Carol Hardijzer The HASA Council is delighted to share the 2nd circular for the HASA 2025 Symposium. Our grand event taking place in Middelburg, Mpumalanga to be hosted by the Middelburg Heritage Society between 13th and 15th...
SOCIAL MEDIA
Why Heritage?
The Constitution enshrines the right to a healthy and protected environment. Everyone has the right to have the environment protected through, among others, the promotion of heritage conservation.
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Address
Postnet Suite #63, Private Bag X7, Parkview, 2122
Email Us
info@heritagesa.org