On 1 October 2024, Stellenbosch University Library and Information Service hosted a panel discussion titled “Democracy through the Lens of Primary Documents at Special Collections” as part of the Woordfees programme. Held in the Library Auditorium, this event was also part of the Library’s 14th Manuscripts Centre Lecture, featured in the Woordfees “Discourse Talks” series. The discussion, which ran from 12:00 to 13:00, brought together a diverse group of panellists to reflect on the importance of primary resources in researching and contextualizing South Africa’s political history. The focus was on collections related to South Africa’s journey to democracy from the 1980s onward, highlighting how these materials continue to inspire new research and provide deeper insights into the country’s political transformation.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Ellen Tise, Senior Director: Stellenbosch University Library and Information Services, emphasised the critical role that primary sources play in preserving the history of democracy in South Africa. She explained how the Manuscripts Section, established in 1969, initially focused on Afrikaans literature but has since expanded to over 480 manuscript collections, now covering subjects such as South African artists, press figures, and political history. This reflects the Library’s ongoing commitment to diversifying its collections and providing a comprehensive view of South Africa’s history.
Ms. Mimi Seyffert-Wirth, Director: Scholarly Communication and Marketing, followed with an overview of the South African political history collections housed in Special Collections, underscoring their importance in understanding the nation’s complex past. She highlighted key materials that document significant political moments leading to democracy.
In celebration of 30 years of democracy, the SU Library also presented an exhibition titled “1994–2024: Democracy in South Africa – A History Told by Unique Library Collections,” on display near the Learning Commons. The exhibition showcases rare and historically significant items from Special Collections, including:
- A handwritten excerpt from “A Prayer for the ANC” by Beyers Naudé (1994)
- A letter from Nelson Mandela discussing the renegotiation of South Africa’s foreign debt in the 1980s, which contributed to his eventual release
- Documents from the Frederik van Zyl Slabbert collection, including his resignation from Parliament and his views on apartheid reform
- Materials from the IDASA collection focused on voter education efforts before the 1994 elections
The panel discussion was led by Dr. Marietjie Oelofsen, who had given the students an assignment to write articles based on the IDASA archive material they had used. These articles will be published in a magazine that the Honours class is compiling themselves. At the event, Dr. Oelofsen invited the students to share their experiences working with the primary sources. Both Sherie Vollenhoven and Nkululeko Ndlovu, BA Honours journalism students, mentioned that they enjoyed engaging with the physical materials, particularly newspapers and magazines. They highlighted how these resources uncovered narratives about South Africa’s political journey to democracy from 1980 onward.
Key questions posed to the panel included:
- What resources were particularly useful in your studies and publications, and how do they place past events in context?
- Which materials surprised or inspired you during your research?
Each panellist offered personal reflections on the unexpected discoveries they made through primary resources, which deepened their understanding of South Africa’s political and social development.
The event concluded with a Q&A session, during which the audience engaged the panellists with insightful questions. Afterward, Marieta Buys, Head: Special Collections, invited attendees to view the exhibition featuring recently acquired collections that offer deeper insights into South Africa’s democratic journey.
The Manuscript Lecture Series, which began in 2009, continues to promote the Library’s rich collections and encourages both public and scholarly engagement with significant historical materials. This year’s event celebrated not only the Library’s role in preserving South Africa’s history but also the enduring research value of its manuscript collections.
Theresa Schoeman