Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Peace Mabe open National Archives Awareness Week in Mahikeng
09 May 2026 — Deputy Minister Mabe officially opened National Archives Awareness Week in Mahikeng, reaffirming the importance of preserving South Africa’s documentary heritage and strengthening public access to the country’s historical record.
Held at Protea Hotel Mahikeng, the opening brought together representatives from government, archives institutions, the heritage sector, academia, researchers and members of the public to mark the beginning of a national programme dedicated to advancing awareness of archives and their place in the country’s democratic and cultural life.
Deputy Minister Mabe said National Archives Awareness Week remains an important platform through which South Africans are reminded that archives are not passive historical collections, but living public resources that preserve memory, protect institutional accountability and enable future generations to understand the country’s social, political and cultural development.
She noted that in a constitutional democracy, archives carry particular significance. Section 32 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa guarantees the right of access to information held by the state, while the National Archives and Records Service of South Africa Act, 1996 provides the legislative framework for the proper management, preservation and accessibility of records of enduring national value.
“Archives form part of the democratic infrastructure of the country. They preserve the evidence of our national journey, document the evolution of our institutions, and ensure that the stories, struggles and achievements of our people remain part of the public record,” said Deputy Minister Mabe.
The Deputy Minister said archives continue to play an important role in strengthening governance, research, education and historical justice. She added that access to documentary heritage is essential not only for scholars and institutions, but for communities seeking to preserve identity, reclaim memory and deepen public understanding of South Africa’s past.
In reflecting on the broader significance of books, reading and documentary preservation, Deputy Minister Mabe noted that South Africa continues to face substantial literacy challenges. Findings from the 2021 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study showed that 81 percent of Grade 4 learners in South Africa could not read for meaning in any language.
She said the work of archives must therefore also be understood within the broader national task of knowledge preservation, literacy development and public education.
“Books, records and archives remain among the most important instruments through which societies preserve knowledge, transmit memory and build informed citizens. A country that values reading and documentation strengthens its capacity to understand itself, to reflect critically and to plan with greater confidence for the future,” she said.
The Deputy Minister further emphasised the importance of broadening access to archival material, particularly for young people, students, researchers and communities whose histories have often been fragmented, marginalised or insufficiently documented.
She noted that expanding access remains central to building a more inclusive national memory and ensuring that the country’s documentary resources reflect the diversity of South African experience.
National Archives Awareness Week also recognises the contribution of archivists, librarians, historians, researchers, publishers and heritage practitioners whose work continues to preserve, organise and make accessible the records that form part of the nation’s collective memory.
Deputy Minister Mabe said the preservation of archives is inseparable from nation-building.
“Our archives are part of who we are. They carry the memory of our people, the record of our institutions and the evidence of our democratic journey. Preserving them is both a cultural responsibility and a national obligation,” she said.
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture continues to position archives as a strategic pillar in preserving national memory, strengthening democratic accountability and protecting South Africa’s heritage resources for generations to come.
