UMKHANYAKUDE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY. Environmental Management Framework HERITAGE ASSESSMENT. May 2012 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL CONSULTANTS

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1 UMKHANYAKUDE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY Environmental Management Framework HERITAGE ASSESSMENT May 2012 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL CONSULTANTS P.O. BOX 1673 SUNNINGHILL Bram Fischer Drive FERNDALE 2194 Phone: (011) Fax: (011) Copyright Nemai Consulting 2012 Heritage Assessment May 2012 Page 1

2 CULTURE AND HERITAGE During the month of May 2012 a survey of heritage sites was done at Umkhanyakude District Municipality (UDM) with the purpose of locating them spatially. The report is an overview of the heritage resources found amongst others in the District, most of which are sourced from Amafa AkwaZulu-Natali, KZN Tourism, local municipalities and the literature. For the purpose of protecting and conserving these heritage resources especially for public vandalism or interference, the details of some sites will not be revealed, however, will be noted as a heritage site. The rich history of UDM, dates back to millions of years ago until recent. This includes palaeontology, archaeology and Bantu history. The area is also known as Maputaland or elephant coast PALAEONTOLOGY Makhathini flats are known today as a fossilised area. This was after a discovery of rich marine fossil bed deposits dating to 100 million years ago (Steyn 2011). Since this date, the African continent has tilted, causing the ocean to recede in places like Makhathini flats, now a coastal plain deep inland with a lot of sand (Steyn 2011). ARCHAEOLOGY Stone Age The archaeology found at Umkhanyakude District Municipality dates to the period of Stone Age. The Stone Age is a time period that dates between 2 million years ago (ya) to 2000 ya. Due to the vast character of cultural material, like stone tools/artefacts, found within this period, it was further divided into three phases; Early Stone Age (ESA), Middle Stone Age (MSA) and the Late Stone Age (LSA). ESA dates between 2 million ya and Before Present (BP). Industries associated with this time period includes Oldowan, Acheulean and Fauresmith. ESA stone tools include hammer stones, flakes, cores, handaxses and cleavers (Pelser 2009). The more refined stone tools appeared during the MSA. MSA dates between and to BP, this varies with location. Industries associated with this time period includes the Howieson s Poort. The stone tools which characterise this period include scrapers, blades, points and flake. Lastly is the LSA which dates between and to BP. Stone tools of this period are characterised by their small size; this Heritage Assessment May 2012 Page 2

3 includes backed knives and borers (Pelser 2009). These dates may however differ from author to author with a difference of ± 100. Amongst others is the most important archaeological site in the district, Border Cave. Figure 1: Border Cave entrance; excavation in progress; and the interpretation area, Jozini Municipality. The site was first excavated in 1934 under the supervision of Raymond Dart; 1940 by Horton, a local resident; by Cooke et al; and in 1971 by Beaumont (Klein 1977; Bruton et al 1980; Derwent 2006). Cultural materials found include fauna, flora and artefacts. Over implements and at least five homo sapiens sapiens (human) remains have not been recovered from Border Cave (Bruton et al 1980: 433; Derwent 2006). These cultural materials date from MSA IA. Iron Age The evidence of Iron Age settlement at Umkhanyakude District dates to AD 290 (Maggs 1976). According to Huffman (2007) Iron Age marks the early evidence of farming community in southern Africa. Animal husbandry, crop farming, pottery and metal working were introduced which in due time liberated hunter gatherers to change their way of life which is less mobile (Carruthers 1990). Due to vast technological discrepancies and settlement pattern within this period, it was further divided into three. The Early Iron Age (EIA) dates to AD , Middle Iron Age (MIA) dates to AD , and the Late Iron Age (LIA) dates to AD (Huffman 2007). Evidence of Iron Age settlement include pottery scatter and coastal shell middens at Enkwazini east of St Lucia (Hall & Vogel 1978; as cited in Bruton et al 1980); and Charcoal from an iron smelting furnace at Ndumo Game Reserve (Dutton 1970; as cited in Bruton et al 1980). HISTORY Umkhanyakude District Municipality encompasses five local municipalities; Mtubatuba, Hlabisa, The Big Five False Bay; Umhlabuyalingana and Jozini. Mtubatuba was named after Heritage Assessment May 2012 Page 3

4 Inkosi Mtubatuba (Chief) who reigned after Chief Somkhele. He was born in 1864 and passed on in 1954 at the age of 90 years old. He reigned for 43 years as Inkosi of Kwa-Mpukunyoni. Jozini means stabbing spear in isizulu. The place was named after a tribal area Emajozini which was famous after the Chief s skill with the use of the weapon (van Jaarsveld 2011). People who reside at UDM are a mixture of Nguni and Thonga. According to Bryant (1929; as cited in Bruton et al 1980) the southern Bantu became separated into three branches in central Africa the Nguni, the Venda- Karanga and the Thonga. The Thongas were the first group from the north to reside Figure 2: Statue of Inkosi umtubatuba. in northern KwaZulu Natal. During the years of 1815 and 1830 the Zulus invaders the land and conquered the Thongas (Torres 1980). The word Thonga was used by Zulu people indiscriminately to describe people living on the north-east of them (Bruton et al 1980; Torres 1980)). The discrepancy between the Zulus and Thongas lies in custom practices and language. A large population of Thonga clans is found in the Tembe area, northern KwaZulu Natal. According to Bruton et al (1980: 435) Early nineteenth century Zululand was widely influenced by the expansionist policies of the Zulu Kings Shaka and Dingaan. The reason behind the expansion was largely in search of favourable grazing and crop-farming areas. The great expansion resulted in tensions between Zulu groups in KwaZulu Natal and the royalty house. It was during this time period that the well-known battles of the Northern KwaZulu Natal occurred. The Thongas however, did not become the enemies of King Shaka kasenzangakhona because instead opposing the ruling the Thonga Chief, Madingi, extended his loyalty to the King, and by so doing, him and his people were left in peace (Bruton et al 1980). One of the battles was the battle of Maqongqo which led to the death of Dingane (Zibani 2002). King Dingane kasenzakhona assassinated his brother King Shaka in order to reign as King of the Zulu. King Mpande a brother to Dingane formed alliance with the Boers and Heritage Assessment May 2012 Page 4

5 killed Dingane to reign as King. The actual grave of King Dingane s grave is locate within the Hlathikhulu forest which is difficult to access, however, his memorial tombstone is in an accessible area near the Swaziland border in the Lebombo Mountains. Figure 3: King Dingane s memorial grave; and the interpretation of the history of Dingane, Jozini Municipality. Mpande was then succeeded by King Cetshwayo who was later defeated by Zibhebu, a chief of the Mandhlakazi clan (Bruton et al 1980; Zibani 2002). Cetshwayo was succeeded by his son Prince Dinizulu who later defeated Zibhebu in one of the well-known battles, the battle of Etshaneni in The battle of Etshaneni took place at Mkuze on the north-western slopes of site known today as the Ghost Mountain. According to the background history of the site as provided by Ghost Mountain Inn, the site is haunted, hence the name. Over the years, strange lights and flickering fires are seen among the fissures and cliffs of the summit. Also, weird noises and strange calls are also heard. The name Etshaneni originates from the mountain on the southern side of the gap firms a lofty peak of bald rock which the indigenous Zulu people call itshana, meaning a small rock or stone (Zibani Figure 3: Ghost Mountain, Jozini Municipality. 2002). The battle was between Dinizulu and Zibhebu in revenge of his father s defeat by Zibhebu at the battle of Msebe and to recover the lost land of his father Cetshwayo. With the assistance of the Boers including Louis Botha, Zibhebu was defeated by Dinizulu in Figure 4: Ghost Mountain, Jozini Municipality. Heritage Assessment May 2012 Page 5

6 1884 and fled the area (Bruton et al 1980; Binns 1968; Zibani 2002). Thousands of bodies were littered around the site, and today the graveyard remains a historical and sacred site which is not open for public viewing (Sibusiso Personal comm. 2012). Part of the UDM history is the arrival of the missionaries. It began in 1898 when a Norwegian missionary Reverend L. O. Feyling established the mission station at Mt Tabor on the eastern shores of Lake St Lucia. In 1908 the Reverend and Mrs N. W. Keys established a mission station at Mseleni on Mashiqele Hill near the western arm of Lake Sibaya (Bruton et al 1980). Figure 5: The Mseleni Mission Station, Umhlabuyalingana Municipality. LIST OF HERITAGE SITES They are several heritage sites found at Umkhanyakude District Municipality including the above mentioned. Limited areas have been archaeologically surveyed in the District (figure 4). It should be noted that some of the site information is sensitive and not public domain. Amafa akwazulu Natali is the agency responsible for heritage management and conservation, therefore, it controls the distribution of information related to archaeological sites. Heritage Assessment May 2012 Page 6

7 Figure 4: Identified archaeological sites Heritage Assessment May 2012 Page 7

8 SWOT ANALYSES The legislation below describes the grading of heritage resources by SAHRA as indicated in table 1. Section 7 of NHRA 25 of 1999 According to section 7 (1) on NHRA 25 of 1999, SAHRA has a system of grading which rates the level of significance of the resources found. (1) SAHRA, in consultation with the Minister and the MEC of every province, must by regulation establish a system of grading places and objects which form part of the national estate, and which distinguishes between at least the categories (a)grade I: Heritage resources with qualities so exceptional that they are of special national significance; (b)grade II: Heritage resources which, although forming part of the national estate, can be considered to have special qualities which make them significant within the context of a province or a region; and (c) Grade III: Other heritage resources worthy of conservation, and which prescribes heritage resources assessment criteria, consistent with the criteria set out in section 3 (3), which must be used by heritage resources authority or a local authority to assess the intrinsic, comparative and contextual significance of a heritage resource and the relative benefits and costs of its protection, so that the appropriate level of grading of the resource and the consequent responsibility for its management may be allocated in terms of section 8. Heritage Assessment May 2012 Page 8

9 Heritage resources SWOT analyses Grading Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats 1. Archaeologic al Unique feature Free access Difficult to access Difficult to make available the land especially in Traditional Authority areas Lack of funding Difficult to access information due to its sensitivity Has the qualities to be renowned a world heritage site Tourist attraction Generate income for community Higher land value Increase Gross Geographical Product of the area (GGP) Create easy access Used for academic purposes to understand past human life. Future developments could jeopardise its state of being renowned a world heritage site. I Heritage Assessment May 2012 Page 9

10 2. Historical Provides insight to the history of the Zulu leadership Non-renewable resource 3. Cultural Provides the experience of the Zulu culture Lack of publicity Lack of signage Lack of conservation Difficult to access Absence of zoning or fencing Lack of funding Lack of public awareness of the relevance of the sites Tourist attraction Opportunity for better presentation Bring awareness to the community as to the importance of the site Training the locals to be tour guides Construct overnight accommodation (Amafa) Lack of publicity Tourist attraction Community development Heritage component is not overlooked at during developments Site may be destroyed due to public interference e.g cattle grazing Lack of authenticity of the Zulu culture II II Table1: SWOT analyses for heritage sites identified at UDM. Heritage Assessment May 2012 Page 10

11 LEGAL FRAMEWORK National Heritage Resources Act 25 of 1999 To introduce an integrated and interactive system for the management of the national heritage resources; to promote good government at all levels, and empower civil society to nurture and conserve their heritage resources so that they may be bequeathed to future generations; to lay down general principles for governing heritage resources management throughout the Republic; to introduce an integrated system for the identification, assessment and management of the heritage resources of South Africa; to establish the South African Heritage Resources Agency together with its Council to co-ordinate and promote the management of heritage resources at national level; to set norms and maintain essential national standards for the management of heritage resources in the Republic and to protect heritage resources of national significance; to control the export of nationally significant heritage objects and the import into the Republic of cultural property illegally exported from foreign countries; to enable the provinces to establish heritage authorities which must adopt powers to protect and manage certain categories of heritage resources; to provide for the protection and management of conservation-worthy places and areas by local authorities; and to provide for matters connected therewith. National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 To provide for co-operative, environmental governance by establishing principles for decision-making on matters affecting the environment, institutions that will promote co operative governance and procedures for co-ordinating environment functions exercised by organs of site; and to provide for matters connected therewith. National heritage Council Act 11 of 1999 To establish a juristic person to be known as the National Heritage Council; to determine its objects. functions and method of work; to prescribe the manner in which it is to be managed and governed; to regulate its staff matters and financial affairs; and to provide for matters connected therewith The KwaZulu Natal Heritage Act 4 of 2008 To provide for the conservation, protection and administration of both the physical and the living or intangible heritage resources of the Province of KwaZulu-Natal; to establish a statutory Council to administer heritage conservation in the Province; to determine the objects, powers, duties and functions of the Council; to determine the manner in which the Heritage Assessment May 2012 Page 11

12 Council is to be managed, governed, staffed and financed; to establish Metro and District Heritage Forums to assist the Council in facilitating and ensuring the involvement of local communities in the administration and conservation of heritage in the Province; and to provide for matters connected therewith. REFERENCE LIST Amafa AkwaZulu Natali database. Binns, C. T Dinizulu: The death of the house of Shaka. Longmans: London. Bruton, M. N; Smith, M & Taylor, R. H A Brief history of human involvement in Maputaland. In: Bruton, M. N. & Cooper K. H. (eds). Studies on the Ecology of Maputaland. Rhodes University and Wildlife Society of SA. Carruthers, V The Magaliesberg. Southern Book Publishers. Johannesburg. Derwent, S KwaZulu Natal heritage sites: A guide to some great places. David Philip Publishers: South Africa. Huffman, T. N Handbook to the Iron Age. The archaeology of Pre-Colonial farming societies in southern Africa. University of KwaZulu Natal Press. South Africa. Klein, R. G The mammalian fauna from the middle and Later Stone Age (late Pleistocene) levels of Border Cave, Natal Province. Southern Africa. South African Archaeological Bulletin 32 (125): Maggs, T. M. O. C Iron Age communities of the southern Highveld. Natal Museum: Pietermaritzburg. National Environmental Management Act 107 of National heritage Council Act 11 of National Heritage Resources Act 25 of Pelser, A Travelling through Time: Archaeology and the Vredefort Dome. In: Reimold, U. & Gibson, R. (eds) Meteorite Impact! The Danger from Space and South Africa s Mega-Impact, the Vredefort Structure (Third Edition): Johannesburg: Springer. Sibusiso tour guide, 15 May Personal communication. Heritage Assessment May 2012 Page 12

13 Steyn, A. J. 03 June Eastern Shores at St Lucia was the site of a fierce battle between miners and conservators. Farmer\ s Weekly. The KwaZulu Natal Heritage Act 4 of Torres, J. L. R. The Amathonga people of Maputaland with special reference to the inhabitants of the Pongolo foloodplain area. In: Bruton, M. N. & Cooper K. H. (eds) Studies on the Ecology of Maputaland. Rhodes University and Wildlife Society of SA. Van Jaarsvel, A. 20 January Heritage Impact Assessment: Proposed Nondabuya- Ndumu 132Kv Powerline and substation, Makhathini Flats, Northern KZN. Zibani, A. N Zulu cultural traditions: A draw card for tourism in KwaZulu Natal, with special reference to the Lebombo spatial development initiative. PhD Thesis: University of Zululand. Heritage Assessment May 2012 Page 13