ICCROM stands with the University of Cape Town and South Africa
University of Cape Town by Ian Barbour/Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

It is with deep regret that we have learnt that a tragic wildfire has destroyed buildings and property at and around the University of Cape Town. The burning of the Jagger Library, which holds rare collections vital to South Africa’s memory, and the impact of fire on historic buildings and landscapes around UCT, highlights the fragility of our invaluable tangible and intangible heritage.  It calls for immediate actions for its sustainable protection.

ICCROM expresses its solidarity with the Government of South Africa and our partners at the University of Cape Town in the wake of this devastating incident, as well as the affected communities, students and staff.  

In recent years, ICCROM has been working with the University of Cape Town to protect and promote cultural heritage in Africa.  In particular, we have been working with UCT, the African World Heritage Fund and others on the development of a project for the protection of the modern heritage in Africa. We have also been developing a heritage hub within the framework of our Youth.Heritage.Africa programme to establish creative and interdisciplinary heritage-related initiatives and spaces, and have been collaborating with the School of African and Gender Studies, Anthropology and Linguistics, on the publication of a collection of papers on the decolonization of heritage.

ICCROM stands ready to provide technical assistance to secure and recover the affected heritage in coordination with our partner institutions and with the support of expert networks in the region.

Sincerely,
Dr. Webber Ndoro
Director- General of ICCROM