By Messiah Zwane
The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture has commended South African winners at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites conference that was held in India recently.
This comes after UNESCO inscribed Sibudu Cave, near oThongathi, and Ohlange, in Inanda, as World Heritage Sites.
The Sibudu Cave had been nominated under the category “The Emergence of
Modern Human Behaviour: The Pleistocene Occupation Sites of South Africa”, while Ohlange was one of the 14 sites listed in “The Human Rights Liberation and Reconciliation: Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites” category.
Mntomuhle Khawula said that being inscribed as a World Heritage Site was significant. He added that both these places will become more prominent globally as a result of this status, which will further boost local pride and tourism.
”The recognition of the Sibudu Cave and Ohlange, belonging to the late John Langalibalele Dube reflects the rich culture history and heritage KwaZulu-Natal boasts of,” he said.
The MEC added that the recognition was a well-deserved and massive honour. He said that his department will continue to do more to promote the province’s historical and cultural sites: ”I aim to promote more of the hidden treasures that our amazing province has to offer to the global community.”
Among those who represented South Africa at the conference was Dr Thobile Sifunda, the head of KZN’s Department of Sports, Arts and Culture.
She said: ”We (were) not lucky. It was hard work done by the team. We must not just celebrate, (but) we must work hard for the benefit of our people in KZN.”
