Natural and Historical Monuments Act, 1923 explained
| Short Title: | Natural and Historical Monuments Act, 1923 |
| Long Title: | To make provision for the preservation of natural and historical monuments of the Union and of objects of aesthetic, historical or scientific value or interest. |
| Citation: | Act No. 6 of 1923 |
| Enacted By: | Parliament of South Africa |
| Royal Assent: | 26 March 1923 |
| Date Commenced: | 10 April 1923 |
| Administered By: | Governor-General |
| Repealed By: | Natural and Historical Monuments, Relics and Antiquities Act of 1934 |
| Status: | Repealed |
The Natural and Historical Monuments Act, 1923 was a South African Act creating a Historical Monuments Commission whose members would identity and seek to take ownership of natural and historical monuments so as to preserve them and prevent further impairment. A monument could be defined as land or scenery of distinctive beauty, fauna, flora or objects, have scientific or historical value and also included waterfalls, caves, bushman paintings, trees and buildings.
Content of the Act
The following is a brief description of the sections of the Natural and Historical Monuments Act, 1923:[1]
Definitions and interpretation
- Section 1Defines that the Governor-General establish a commission called the Commission for the Preservation of Natural and Historical Monuments of the Union; of no more than seven members; unpaid duties; a chairman and a deputy chosen by the members with the chairman having a casting vote and the names of the members of the commission would be published in the Government Gazette.
Section 2Defines the commission as a body corporate and subject to laws that govern such a body.
Section 3Defines that the funds of the commission can include donations, fees and annual subscriptions. Donations need publishing annually in the Government Gazette.
Section 4Defines the duties of the commission as establish a register of monuments it believes should be preserved; establish who owns the monument; purchase a monument to preserve or prevent its impairment if funds are available and become a trustee of any monument if requested by a person or gifted or bequeath to the state.
Section 5Defines the restrictions to the power of what a commission can do as a trustee of a monument.
Section 6Defines the powers of the Governor-General to make regulations to set procedures for the commission's meetings, the members qualifications, the period they hold office for and other matters required to carry out the commission.
Section 7Defines the commissions powers to make by-laws, subject to the approval of the Governor-General, such as regulating to access monuments, fix entrance fees and safeguard monuments from damage.
Section 8Defines what the word monument means in relation to the Act.
Section 9Defines the short title of the Act.
Notes and References
- Web site: Archive - Natural and Historical Monuments, Relics and Antiques Act 1923 Document Library . 2022-08-12 . www.southafricanculturalobservatory.org.za.
