MultiChoice has digitised the archives of the African National Congress (ANC), allowing South Africans and others across the world to view 92 years of material.
The process, completed in collaboration with the ANC and the University of Fort Hare, means video and audio tapes, printed material and photographs are now available on the ANC’s “Archive” website.
“MultiChoice is proud and honoured to partner the ANC on a project that helps preserve a part of South Africa’s history and heritage,” said Nolo Letele, executive chairman of MultiChoice. “The website will make documentation from the liberation struggle available to a much wider public.”
The company sponsored high-end digital equipment at the University of Fort Hare to convert physical archives to digital format, with a web portal created to host the archives. The Dutch Embassy also handed over digitised material on the evening, which forms part of the website content.
Basic material is available on the website, with researchers or institutions able to register to gain access to the full archives.
ANC national chairperson Baleka Mbete said: “The ANC is thrilled on the partnership with MultiChoice, University of Fort Hare and the Dutch Embassy. This initiative will take us forward into the information and knowledge age, which will benefit the nation and generations to come.
“This project will enrich our history as a nation as it will correctly capture historic moments that took place during the period of the struggle and beyond.”
The project digitised over 25,000 document pages, 2,193 audio tracks, 20,000 photos and 774 videos over a six month period.
