C. Living archives & oral histories

independent human rights archive dedicated to documenting, supporting and promoting greater awareness of past and contemporary struggles for justice through archival practices and outreach, and the utilisation of access to information laws.

The Freedom of Information Programme (FOIP) is dedicated to using South Africa’s Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000 in order to extend the boundaries of freedom of information and to build up an archive of materials released under the Act for public use.

Link: SAHA

UWC- Robben Island - Mayibuye Archives

is “a unique multimedia collections depicting multiple facets of resistence of the freedom struggle that was waged against apartheid from within and outside the borders of South Africa”, with unique collections donated by activist organisations.

Link: Mayibuye Centre

A R C H I V E F O R J U S T I C E

South African History Archive - Since 1988

The Struggles for Justice (SFJ) Programme focuses on collecting, preserving and creating access to archival materials held by SAHA and promoting related archival collections across the region.

Wits Historical Papers Research Archive was

established in 1966. Historical Papers is one of the largest and most comprehensive independent archives in Southern Africa, housing over 3400 collections of historical, political, and cultural importance. These include records of many human rights NGOs, labour federations, political parties, churches, and the papers of human rights activists.

Link: Wits Historical Papers Research Archive

C. Living archives & oral histories

Another task which archivists need to take up is to actively document voices and experiences of those 19 who had been left out of colonial and apartheid archives. Too often, we do not record the stories of those who are poor, without access to formal education, or who have no place to save personal records. Archivists in the postapartheid period now record and preserve these stories, often through audio or video; these oral collections form a wealth of new information about our past.

'The grand narratives of struggle and apartheid capture only a fraction of its lived reality, and convey a picture drained of meaning and feeling. Since official documents are silent on many of these subjects, and written participant accounts are few and far between, and often cast in heroic mould, oral testimonies provide one resource that can redeem and bring to life this crucial period of South Africa's past. ..” - Prof Phil Bonner