World Heritage status for Mossel Bay’s Pinnacle Point Caves

It’s official, the Pinnacle Point Caves received World Heritage status yesterday.

This follows deliberations by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee at the 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee in India.

Here, it was to be decided, among others, whether the caves and two other sites – Diepkloof Rock Shelter, close to Elands Bay in the Western Cape, and the Sibhudu Cave in KwaDukuza, KZN – should receive this status.

Mossel Bay mayor Dirk Kotzé made the announcement yesterday afternoon.

“I want to thank Professor Curtis Marean of Arizona State University; Dr Peter Nilssen of Mossel Bay, who has been working on these sites; community members; community leaders; [and] the Mossel Bay Municipality – we have been working for more than 10 years towards this project.”

According to a statement issued by the Western Cape Government, the Diepkloof Rock Shelter and the Sibhudu Cave also received World Heritage status.