The liberation struggle and liberation heritage sites in South Africa

Abstract

The research which gave rise to this Report was carried out by a team of researchers drawn from the HSRC's Democracy, Governance and Service Delivery (DGSD) Programme and external history and heritage experts. The objective of the research was twofold: (1) to identify new heritage sites that can be included in the National Liberation Heritage Route to be submitted to UNESCO for consideration as a World Heritage Site; and (2) to identity and record the history of unsung heroes and heroines of the struggle. The focus of the research was on five provinces: the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and North-West provinces. The starting point of the research was the history of the struggle for liberation. The research methodology included the review of relevant secondary literature and archival material, as well as interviews with a selection of academics, heritage practitioners and veterans of the liberation struggle. This was complemented by a series of workshops in all five provinces as well as the presentation of results of the research at seminars to generate discussion.