December 19 2007 at 11:00AM
By Aeysha Kassiem
Valuable rock art that paints the colourful history of the country's past is being defaced.
While rock art sites - painted by the San up to 6 000 years ago - throughout the Western Cape are protected by the National Monuments Council (NMC), a rock art site in Elands Bay has been scribbled over.
An NMC sign close to the site reads: "The Elands Bay cave rock paintings reflect the religious experiences and beliefs of the San (Bushmen) whose ancestors lived in this area for more than 20 000 years.
"Please enjoy looking at the art but do not touch the paintings or deface them and the other rocks in the vicinity in any way. Wetting the paintings is particularly harmful."
The NMC no longer exists and has been replaced by provincial resource heritage authorities.
The Clanwilliam Municipality did not respond to messages left by the Cape Times.
Director for arts, culture, language and heritage at the provincial department of cultural Affairs and Sports, Jane Moleleki, said on Tuesday it was the first time she had been informed of the damage. She urged the public to respect the province's heritage.
"Rock art is our heritage in the Western Cape. It has to be preserved and should be protected. If there is vandalism, the department will have to look into it."
She said accessibility to the site is usually what affected its protection.
"It does depend, to some degree, on where it is situated - whether there is easy access then it makes it easier for vandals. Other sites are on private property."
Asked whether cleaning the vandalised rock art also affected the paintings, she said it depended on how the piece had been vandalised. Sometimes specialists had to be brought in.
"We need to educate people through community participation and explain to them the significance of rock art and how it contributes to our heritage and its importance."
aeysha.kassiem@inl.co.za
http://www.lonker.net/art_african_1.htm
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