Black plaques highlight heritage building 'horror stories'

If you're a property developer or building owner of the rotten apple variety, beware. The Gauteng Heritage Action Group (GHAG) is on a campaign to name and shame baddies.

GHAG is an association of heritage organisations who, this past heritage month, launched their Black Plaques Campaign. While the well-known blue heritage plaques tell the story of a place or structure of historical and heritage value, the black plaques are about "horror heritage" stories.

A black plaque on a building is a physical marker to show that owners and managers have been irresponsible in looking after their properties. Through their neglect, they create eyesores and rob the province of its heritage gems.

Already on the list are the CNA building, owned by Urban Ocean in the Joburg CBD, and the Rissik Street Post Office, owned by City of Johannesburg.

Shamed property owners may remove the black plaques but the heritage black list remains.

See heritageportal.co.za for updated lists.