Devi | The Cradle under threat | 24 September 2023

HERITAGE UNDER THREAT – CRADLE OF HUMANKIND

Africa is the birthplace of humankind – all of humanity shares an African heritage. And, our collective umbilical cord lies nestled in the Cradle of Humankind, north-west of Johannesburg.

Declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1999, the cradle is an area of global archaeological significance – rich with fossils which has given modern man a peek into a world, billions of years old. But, in a #DeviShow Heritage Day investigation, this world-renowned site is in deep trouble. Ailing infrastructure and poor management on the part of local municipality, Mogale City, has resulted in the pollution of this sensitive and important area. This, coupled with acid mine drainage from old and unrehabilitated mining operations now threatens the region’s heritage status, carrying dire consequences for tourism, jobs and the future of the area.