Pretoria: Time is running out for South Africans to nominate indigenous knowledge holders to be documented as living human treasures. The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture is calling on the public, universities, communities, and traditional councils to nominate suitable indigenous knowledge holders to be considered for appointment and documentation as Living Human Treasures in line with the National Policy on South African Living Heritage.

According to South African Government News Agency, the Living Human Treasures project seeks to recognize and document knowledge holders, oral historians, traditional healers, master craftsmen, artists, cultural practitioners, and other custodians of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) who have significantly contributed to preserving, transmitting, and promoting South Africa’s intangible cultural heritage. The due date for nominations is 15 May 2026.

Chapter 5, clause 5.5.3 of the National Policy on South African Living Human Treasures outlines the criteria for selection, emphasizing the value of their skill as a testimony of human creative genius, their reputation in the community, the risk of their knowledge disappearing, their ability to transmit living heritage, and community recommendations.

The department specified that individuals cannot be documented as living human treasures if they are not South African citizens and ordinarily residents in the Republic, are unrehabilitated insolvents, or have been convicted of offenses involving dishonesty and sentenced to imprisonment without the option of a fine.

To nominate a living human treasure, one must submit a nomination letter with the nominee’s full name and contact details, a signed acceptance letter from the nominee, a certified copy of the nominee’s Identity Document (ID), and a portfolio of photographs of the nominee.