Heritage Association and Heritage House
Provincial heritage resources authority’ or ‘PHRA’ is the term used by the National Heritage Resources Act to describe an authority responsible for management of the ‘national estate’ in a province. The Act establishes 3 grades of heritage resource which broadly indicate significance at national, provincial and local level. The national heritage resources authority, SAHRA is responsible for Grade I heritage resources whilst PHRAs are responsible for Grade II heritage resources and in most instances also those at Grade III level.
There are established PHRAs in each of the 9 provinces, with most of them electing to do so under provisions of the National Heritage Resources Act. Only the KwaZulu-Natal and Northern Cape PHRA’s are set up in terms of legislation at provincial level. KwaZulu-Natal has the oldest PHRA predating the passing of the National Heritage Resources Act. All PHRAs are public entities in terms of South Africa’s Public Finance Management Act.] 
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The Provincial Heritage Resources Authority Gauteng (PHRAG) is responsible for the identification, conservation and management of heritage resources throughout the province.
If an owner or developer plans to alter or demolish an identified heritage resource or structure older than sixty years they will need to apply to the PHRAG for a permit. The Agency was established in terms of the National Heritage Resources Act, Act 25 of 1999.
PHRAs are able to protect heritage resources set out in Chapter II of the National Heritage Resources Act. These are divided into 2 types:
- ‘Formal Protections’ which require a specific action by a heritage resources authority to designate, usually by notice in a government gazette, and
- ‘General Protections’ which apply without the need for specific action and which usually apply by virtue of the age of the heritage resources concerned.
PHRAs are generally responsible for the following types of heritage resources:
- Buildings and structures of architectural, historical, technical and aesthetic value
- Places to which oral traditions intangible values are attached
- Historical settlements and towns
- Landscapes and natural features
- Geological sites
- Archaeological sites
- Paleontological sites
- Rock art sites
- Battlefields
- Graves and burial grounds
- Sites associated with slavery
