Public nominations for the only heritage awards in the country, the Golden Shield Heritage Awards, will be closing on 30 August 2019. The National Heritage Council of South Africa (NHC) and the Limpopo Department of Sport, Arts and Culture invite heritage enthusiasts, cultural activists, communities and organisations to be part of acknowledging and honouring champions in the Heritage sector.
 
The awards ceremony for all the finalists and winners will be held on 20 September 2019 in Polokwane as part of the Heritage Month celebrations. Polokwane will be the host province of the awards for the next three years.
 
Sport, Arts and Culture MEC Thandi Moraka says “it is an excitement for us as a province to host these significant awards in the process of making sure that we preserve our heritage. Limpopo province is diverse in terms of culture and tradition, this is the only province where you find several tribes living together in harmony without any tribal issues being raised amongst our communities”.
 
Through these awards since 2012, the NHC has honoured champions who work selflessly and made worthwhile contributions to the preservation and promotion of the country’s cultural and natural heritage.

Chief Executive of the NHC, Adv. Sonwabile Mancotywa says “I would like to remind South African communities that heritage preservation and promotion is in their hands and that it needs to be placed at the centre of the developmental agenda. With the increasing number of nominations that we receive every year for the Golden Shield Heritage Awards, it shows that South Africans have pride in their own heritage. We appeal to fellow citizens to nominate those who may not be aware that their works deserve to be acknowledged and recognised for their selfless efforts”.
 
The following are the categories for the 2019 Golden Shield Heritage Awards: National Living Treasure, Local Government Commitment, Preferred Heritage Destination, Young Heritage Activist, Academic Excellence, Voice of Heritage, Heritage Corporate Citizen, Liberation Heritage Steward, Heritage Education and Differentially Able people in Heritage. There are prizes for finalists and winners whose expenses to the awards will be fully covered as well.
 
“Through a platform such as these awards, the NHC also gets to become aware of the great works by our communities. This is what fuels us at the NHC to do more in realising our vision of a nation proud of its African heritage” remarks Adv. Mancotywa.
 
Nomination forms and more information about the categories are available on the NHC website (click here).

Issued by the National Heritage Council of South Africa
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