Comment on the City’s draft Heritage Resources Management Strategy

17 August 2026

17 August – 17 September 2026

We are proposing a Heritage Resources Management Strategy to guide how heritage resources will be managed and protected at local level, in terms of the National Heritage Resources Act (NHRA, Act 25 of 1999) and the Municipal Planning By-law.

The City’s Cultural Heritage Strategy is more than 20 years old. Since it was approved in October 2005, Cape Town has grown and changed, and there have been significant developments in the approach to heritage management and the implementation of the NHRA at local level.

The draft Heritage Resources Management Strategy aims to strengthen heritage management in the city by:

• better integrating heritage management into municipal planning processes; 
• implementing appropriate levels of protection for conservation-worthy heritage resources; 
• reducing administrative inefficiencies and unnecessary duplication between heritage approval processes; and 
• supporting the role of heritage in economic growth, public benefit and environmental sustainability.

The draft strategy recognises that heritage is not only about the past, but also about how Cape Town grows, develops and retains its unique identity over time.

Additionally, it aligns with relevant national and provincial legislation and supports the City’s broader planning and development objectives.

In terms of section 17 of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, Act 32 of 2000, you can submit comments to the municipality in respect of the draft strategy.

You can access the documents:

• at City libraries 
• at Subcouncil offices
• in the document downloads section below

Join our virtual information session to find out more about the draft strategy.​​

Submit your comments from 17 August – 17 September 2026.

You may submit your comments via the following channels: 

Online
Submit your comment online. 

Email
Email your comments to heritage@capetown.gov.za. 

Delivery
Deliver your written comments by hand to your local library or Subcouncil office.

Anthea Bendie

Telephone:
021 400 1450

Email:
anthea.bendie@capetown.gov.za

For more information and general enquiries:

Email:
heritage@capetown.gov.za