Issued by: Ministry of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology
In terms of the National Archives of South Africa Act, 1996, which will be promulgated shortly, the open access period which applies to public records in the custody of the State Archives Service - soon to become The National Archives of South Africa - is being shortened from 30 years to 20 years. Some examples of public records that currently fall in the 30 year closed access period, but which will become freely available to the public in terms of the shortened 20 year access stipulation, are:
ARCHIVES OF THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE:
(a) Files dealing with strikes and uprisings, including correspondence between the Minister and the public at the time of the 1976 Soweto uprising. These files will become freely accessible on 1 January 1997.
(b) Files dating from the 1970's dealing with the banning and restriction of individuals in terms of the Suppression of Communism Act. These files will become accessible as soon as the new Archives Act comes into effect.
ARCHIVES OF THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE UPRISING IN
SOWETO AND OTHER PLACES IN 1976:
These records contain for example the Commission's findings on its investigations into the Department of Bantu Education regarding the events leading up to the uprising. These records will become automatically accessible on 1 January 1997.
ARCHIVES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BANTU EDUCATION:
Series of case files relating to influx control, which will become freely accessible on implementation of the new Archives Act.
ARCHIVES OF THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF
THE DEATH OF DR. H F VERWOERD;
These archives contain the Commission's findings on all the circumstances surrounding the assassination. It will become freely accessible as soon as the new Archives Act has been implemented.
In addition to the shortening of the open access period from the period 30 to 20 years, a decision has also been taken with regard to access to Cabinet records in the State Archives. When Cabinet records were transferred to the State Archives Services in April 1994, the Office of the former State President requested an embargo of 10 years on public access to those records, in addition to the 30 year closed period in terms of the Archives Act (Act No 6 of 1962). These records include Cabinet Minutes for the period January 1956 to March 1994.
A political ruling was therefore required to enable the State Archives Service to administer access to Cabinet records. The Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology therefore, in May 1996, decided that access to Cabinet records be dealt with in terms of the Archives Act. The Office of the President was then approached, requesting approval to manage access to Cabinet records in the State Archives in terms of existing archival legislation. That Office in August 1996 concurred that no additional restrictions to public access to Cabinet records should apply beyond those contained in archival legislation.
Thus the implications are that applications for access to Cabinet records for the closed period will be dealt with in the same manner those applying to access to any other public record.
Enquiries: Ms Marie Olivier: (012) 3235300
19 September 1996