The Nelson Mandela Foundation and the University of Cape Town launched its report on the state of archives in South Africa at an event hosted by Constitution Hill last night. The report is based on two years of research and analysis by the organisations’ joint project the Archival Platform.
“The Report focuses on South Africa’s public archives services,” said Foundation Director of Research and Archive Verne Harris. “The national system is in trouble, and requires urgent intervention from the highest levels. We have been in communication with the ministry of Arts and Culture around the report.” Harris and Noma Pakade spoke at the event.
Earlier in the day the Archival Platform had hosted a national workshop on the Report, which included a special focus on the implications of the new Protection of Personal Information Act for archival institutions. All nine provincial archives services as well as a range of other stakeholders were represented at the workshop. The Platform will be convening similar workshops in all the provinces.
Download the full PDF report below.
State of the South African archive system