Townscape conservation (with reference to Pietermaritzburg).

Abstract

Our environment (built and natural) is a thing of beauty and value, an inheritance, created by our forefathers for us and for future generations. In South Africa , conservation of cities has only recently become a reality. This study is an attempt to give a general picture of the conservation related mechanisms of townscape conservation in South Africa, with particular reference to Pietermaritzburg. Townscape conservation legislation in South Africa is presently administered in separate and unrelated sets of legislation. The National Monuments Act 28 of 1969 (chapter 2) on the one hand and the physical planning legislation (chapter 4) which is contained in a variety of provincial and local legislation on the other. There is also the Environment Conservation Act 73 of 1989 and other mechanisms (chapter 3) which incidentally promote the conservation of the South African townscape. This study will examine the legal principles available to the different mechanisms which facilitate townscape conservation, with particular reference to the City of Pietermaritzburg (chapter 5).