By Akani Nkuna
Deputy President Paul Mashatile on Tuesday said cultural and natural heritage should be treated as a key economic sector, not confined to preservation, but integrated into development, investment and sustainability frameworks.
Mashatile was speaking at the commemoration of the 10th African World Heritage Day held at the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) in Midrand, Johannesburg, which also marked the 20th anniversary of the African World Heritage Fund.
“Heritage cannot exist in isolation… It must speak the language of investment, sustainability and economic growth,” he said. “Let me be clear: heritage is an economic sector.”
He said unlocking the sector’s value required aligning conservation with economic planning and placing communities at the centre, supported by partnerships between government, development finance institutions and the private sector.
African World Heritage Day, proclaimed by UNESCO in 2015, aims to raise awareness of Africa’s cultural and natural heritage and promote preservation
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