The Egoli Heritage Foundation was formed as a result of merger of three iconic Johannesburg Heritage Organizations: The Johannesburg Branch of the Simon van der Stel Association (now the Heritage Association of South Africa), The Johannesburg Historical Foundation and The Sandton Historical Society. The Foundation is a founder member of the Heritage Register. Its predecessor, The Simon van der Stel Foundation was founded in 1959 with the aim of cultivation an appreciation for our history and especially our built environment. The Foundation was named after Simon van der Stel, Governor at the Cape (1679-1699). He was the first South African to promulgate conservation legislation. The Foundation was a registered non-profit making company, governed by a National Council representing the members of the organization. Its main purpose was to conserve the heritage by encouraging the public and private sector to restore old buildings, sites and objects. It also gives advice on restoration. Simon van der Stel Foundation had branches countrywide. It was the largest and oldest non-governmental (NGO) organization involved in heritage conservation. The Foundation is known today as Heritage South Africa and operates as non-profit section 21 company with many affiliated branches. The Egoli Heritage Foundation (EFT) established later, in the 1980s, is the affiliated body based in Johannesburg. It is a voluntarily organization involved in creating awareness of the importance of conserving our heritage. It's members are taking steps to protect buildings in danger of demolition due to neglect, or ignorance of the law. The Egoli Heritage Foundation runs many projects in order to save our heritage buildings. One of them is the raising of plaques on historical structures.