Heritage objects in South Africa are objects or collections formally declared as such by the South African Heritage Resource Agency in order to control their export. Declaration does not restrict the sale or ownership of the objects.[1]
Archeological and paleontological material and meteorites are exempt from declaration as such objects may not be bought, sold or owned.
With the coming into effect of the National Heritage Resources Act on 1 April 2000, all moveable objects previously declared as national monuments became heritage objects.[2]
At provincial level only Amafa aKwaZulu-Natali has powers to protect and manage heritage objects.[3]