To introduce an integrated and interactive system for the management of the
national heritage which will co-ordinate the expression of the heritage of all who
belong in South Africa; to promote good government at all levels, and empower
civil society to nurture and conserve their heritage so that it may be bequeathed to future generations; to lay down general principles for governing heritage
management throughout the Republic, to establish divisions for various aspects of heritage management; to introduce an integrated system for the identification, assessment and management of the heritage resources of South Africa; to establish a South African Heritage Division and a South African Heritage Agency to co-ordinate and promote the management of heritage resources at national level; to set norms and standards for the management of the recording of information on 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.