The name ‘Ngwao Boswa Kapa Bokone’ is Setswana for ‘Heritage Northern Cape’ and the organisation is commonly referred to as ‘Boswa’ (Heritage). It is also officially known by its names in the other three official languages of the province, English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa.
Ngwao Boswa Kapa Bokone is also commonly known as “Boswa”

Boswa is under the governance of a council appointed by the MEC for Sport, Arts & Culture and is administered by the staff of the Heritage Resources Unit of the Department.

Amongst other things Boswa administers:
• World Heritage Sites
• Provincial Heritage Sites
• Heritage Areas
• Register Sites
• 60 year old structures
• Public monuments & memorials

Archaeology, including rock art, graves of victims of conflict and other graves not in formal cemeteries are administered by the national heritage authority, SAHRA (www.sahra.org.za).

Boswa is best known as the custodian of the approximately 130 provincial heritage sites in the province, but is also responsible for administration of other forms of protection of heritage established under the terms of the National Heritage.

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This necessitated the creation of a system whereby many of the responsibilities of the former National Monuments Council were devolved to provincial level via the National Heritage Resources Act.

Whilst provinces may pass their own heritage conservation legislation, the Northern Cape Provincial Government elected to use provisions of the National Heritage Resources Act which allow it to establish a provincial heritage resources authority (PHRA). Boswa was hence established by regulation on 28 February 2003.

On 11 October 2003 the Council appointed by the MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture met for the first time and has since met regularly.

The Council has established a sub-committee known as the ‘Permits Committee’ which meets monthly to consider applications under the terms of the National Heritage Resources Act. The Council has also established an Executive Committee.

Boswa inherited responsibility for approximately 130 former national monuments, now known as ‘provincial heritage sites’.

The National Heritage Resources Act provides for a greater variety of protection than did its predecessor and the organisation has continued to institute protections of various forms under its terms. A large part of this work is dedicated to transforming the heritage landscape of the Northern Cape Province to ensure that the heritage of all its people enjoys equal recognition and appropriate protection.

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Boswa is subject to a biennial assessment of competency by the South African Heritage Resources Agency, SAHRA, in terms of which it is determined which aspects of the National Heritage Resources Act it is qualified to implement. It has been assessed as competent to deal with all areas over which a provincial heritage resources authority is permitted to act, aside from Section 36 of the Act which covers certain aspects relating to graves and burials.

Categories of heritage resources for which Boswa is responsible

NBKB is responsible for sites that fall within the following categories

• Buildings and structures of architectural, historical, technical and aesthetic value
• Places to which oral traditions intangible values are attached
• Historical settlements and towns
• Landscapes and natural features
• Sites associated with slavery

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