[4] It is mandated to care for that part of South Africa's national estate that is of provincial and local significance in KwaZulu-Natal .
Under the 1996 Constitution of South Africa, cultural matters are a competency shared between national and provincial government.
[8] This necessitated the creation of a system whereby many of the responsibilities of former monuments authorities were devolved to the provincial level via the National Heritage Resources Act.
[10] It has been assessed as competent to deal with all areas over which a provincial heritage resources authority is permitted to act.
[11] Most specially protected sites must be declared by publication of a notice in the Provincial Gazette, but graves of members of the Zulu royal family, and battlefields and public monuments and memorials listed in the Schedule to the KwaZulu-Natal Heritage Act are automatically protected in the same way as a Heritage Landmark.
This, together with earnings from application fees and income generated by the sites which it manages, covers its operational costs.
Amafa has offices at the KwaZulu Cultural Museum, King Cetshwayo Highway, Ondini, Ulundi (28.19.11.33S 31.27.33.75E) and the Old YMCA Building, Cnr Langalibalele and Buchanan Streets, Pietermaritzburg (29.36.16.46S 30.22.39.42.E)