NHC – National Heritage Council South Africa

The mission of the National Heritage Council South Africa (NHC) is to transform, protect and promote South African heritage for sustainable development.

The core functions of the Council are to: advise the Minister on national policies about heritage matters, including indigenous knowledge systems, treasures, restitution and other relevant matters, and any other matter concerning heritage which the Minister may from time to time determine; advise the Minister on the allocation of core funding to declared cultural institutions; investigate ways and means of effecting the repatriation of South African heritage objects presently held by foreign governments, public and private institutions, and individuals; make grants to any person, organisation or institution in order to promote and develop national heritage activities and resources; coordinate the activities of public institutions involved in heritage management in an integrated manner to ensure optimum use of state resources; monitor and coordinate the transformation of the heritage sector, with special emphasis on the development of heritage projects; consult and liaise with relevant stakeholders on heritage matters; generally support, nurture and develop access to institutions and programmes that promote and bring equity to heritage management; promote an awareness of the history of all our people, including the history of enslavement in South Africa; lobby in order to secure funding for heritage management and create a greater public awareness of the importance of our nation’s heritage; perform such duties in respect of its objects as the Minister may assign to it; and, on its own initiative, advise the Minister on any matter concerning heritage.