Pretoria – Arts and Culture Deputy Minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi has called on South Africans to donate oral history collections in their custody to national and provincial archives.
“There isn’t enough information collected on the Indigenous Knowledge System and on the histories of black people in general,” Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi said.
She said that it was sad that most of the younger generation can’t even recite their own clan names.
Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi launched National Archives Awareness Week on Monday in Limpopo.
The awareness week is scheduled to take place from Monday until Friday under the theme ‘Archives our Living Past’.
“I assure you that your donations will be taken care of by our institutions. We have a rich history as a country which needs to be shared with the current and future generations,” she said.
Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi said the National Archives have entered into an agreement with the Auditor General of South Africa to ensure that all government departments comply with the prescripts of the National Archives Act and other relevant legislation, which makes reference to the importance of the proper records-keeping.
“We need to ensure that there is a records manager appointed in each department to instil good governance, efficiency and transparency,” she said.
Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi said the archives week was aimed at promoting prominence to archival services and highlighting career paths available within the profession
Learners in Limpopo will get a chance to visit the provincial archives in Polokwane, Makwarela, Giyani and Lebowakgomo.
“The daily programme will include presentations on archival functions, exhibition viewing and tours, panel discussions on records management and preservations,” she said.
Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi encouraged the public to visit the archive buildings to witness archival functions and services.
“Archivist from 13 African countries such as Congo Brazzaville, Botswana, Namibia, Ghana, Senegal, Sudan, Burundi, Egypt, Algeria, Tanzania, Western Sahara and Mozambique are expected to participate in this archives week programme,” she said.
She said South Africa needs to share ideas and expertise so that it can contribute to making the continent better.
“I am sure that our fellow African countries will take such opportunities to share their experiences, challenges and successes with our archivists and vice versa,” Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi. – SAnews.gov.za
