Emilia Potenza became politically active in the 1970s whilst a student at Wits University. In 1977 she joined the Wits-based organisation Catholic Soiety (Cathsoc), and became involved in political campaigns such as "Free Mandela", housing and removal issues and providing support to pressure groups and political prisoners. In 1980, with a diploma in education, she joined the National Education Union of South Africa (NEUSA) and campaigned for them on a national level. When NEUSA joined ranks with the newly formed South African Teachers Union in the early 1990s Potenza shifted her activities towards assistance in the formation of a democratic education system in South Africa.

The Tucker Foundation Project was funded by Brian Tucker, a white South African who currently lives in Australia. The project was compiled by the University of the Witwatersrand School of Journalism. Brian Tucker wanted the contributions of white South Africans who fought against apartheid to be documented. The aim of the project was to concentrate on the experiences of ordinary white South Africans fighting in an extra-ordinary period. As a result, between thirty and forty oral histories were collected.

In 2002 SAHA and Historical Papers embarked on a joint research project to locate records pertaining to the TRC with the objective of producing a Directory of TRC Archival Resources. The TRC Oral History Project formed an integral part of this process and three individuals were employed to collect oral testimonies of individuals who worked for the Commission in various capacities and in different locales. The resulting resource is accessible as an Historical Papers collection.

TRC - Truth and Reconciliation Commission

HP - Historical Papers at the University of the Witwatersrand

Jonathan Klaaren was born in the United States in 1963. He was educated at Harvard College and the University of Cape Town before studying law at Columbia School of Law and at the University of the Witwatersrand. He is currently (2003) a professor of law at the University of the Witwatersrand, a Director of the Research Unit for Law and Administration (RULA), a member of the Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS), one of the founding staff of the Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research (WISER), and on the board of the Open Democracy Advice Centre (ODAC) in Cape Town. At present he is also enrolled for a PhD at Yale University.

Klaaren has extensive legal experience in both South Africa and the U.S.A. He was a law clerk to Judge A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr. in the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, is a member of the State Bar in both Connecticut and New York, and is an advocate in the South African High Court.

Klaaren has numerous publications (chapters, articles, book reviews, books) to his name on an array of subjects including human rights, forced migration, the electoral process, constitutional law, and freedom of information legislation. Most notably, he is co-editor of the South African Journal on Human Rights and of Chaskalson et al., Constitutional Law of South Africa (1999) and was editor-in-chief of the Columbia Human Rights Review. He is co-author of The Promotion of Access to Information Act Commentary (2002) and The Promotion of Administrative Justice Act Benchbook (2001).

One of Klaaren's main concerns in the last decade has been with the process of creating and refining freedom of information legislation for South Africa. This is necessary to enact the Constitutions provision of right of access to information. This concern was a primary one with Professor Etienne Mureinik. This process began in 1994 with the appointment (by then Deputy President Thabo Mbeki) of a task team on open democracy. This team used prior comparative research conducted by CALS (including Klaaren) and consulted widely with government bureaucrats and interested members of the public to form a set of principles on which to base the legislation. The draft Open Democracy Bill, which was presented to Cabinet in 1996, was the result.

After considering the draft Bill, a modified version was introduced to Parliament by Cabinet in 1998. During the parliamentary process, the Ad Hoc Joint Committee on the Open Democracy Bill made substantial changes to the Bill. The sections on whistle blowers and protection of privacy were removed and the right of access to information of private bodies was expanded upon. The Bill was passed by Parliament in 2000 as the Promotion of Access to Information Act.

Not only was Klaarens research used by the task team on open democracy, he was also a member of the Open Democracy Advice Forum (ODAF) and the Open Democracy Working Group. The ODAF was a consultative body that dissolved before the Open Democracy Bill was passed. The Working Group was a precursor academic group to the task team that also disbanded before passage of the Open Democracy Bill.

AJA: Administrative Justice Act -

GTZ: German Technical Co - operation

ODAC: Open Democracy Advice Centre -

PAIA: Promotion of Access to Information Act -

PAJA: Promotion of Administrative Justice Act -

RULA: Research Unit on Law Administration -

SAHRC: South Africa Human Rights Commission -

The donor of this collection, Barbara Hogan, was born in 1952 in the small town of Benoni in the former Transvaal, now Gauteng Province. In an interview given to Michelle Friedman, Hogan explains that she hails from a white family that largely ignored the harsh and oppressive realities of Apartheid as they affected the lives of the country's black majority.

It was only when she attended the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) and got involved in the student protest politics of the day that she became aware of what the system of Apartheid entailed.

While at WITS Hogan participated in a march that was part of a campaign calling for the release of 22 persons kept in solitary confinement. She was detained.

Her detention and subsequent exposure to white leftist campus politics had a decided politicising effect on her. Hogan got involved in trade unionism and with community organisations. The response of the Apartheid state to the 1976 Uprisings and the death in police custody of Steve Biko led her to the realisation that sustained resistance to Apartheid was only possible if it additionally operated from an underground base.

Hence she joined the then outlawed African National Congress (ANC). Her responsibilities in the Movement were working towards winning over the white left, participating in public political campaigning and supplying the ANC underground in Botswana with information about the activities of trade unions and community organisations inside South Africa.

Hogan was detained in 1982 and, despite the fact that the only 'crime' that the Judiciary could attribute to her was 'furthering the aims of a banned organisation' after being interrogated, ill-treated and kept in solitary confinement for 1 year, Hogan was nonetheless found guilty of 'high treason' and sentenced to 10 years in gaol.

She was released in 1990 with the unbanning of outlawed political organisations and the release of political prisoners, most notably Nelson Mandela.

Upon her release Hogan played a pivotal role in the re-structuring of the ANC from an exiled liberation movement that operated internally from underground to a sustainable political party that was to lead a post-Aaprtheid South Africa to democracy. She did this in her capacity as general-secretary of the Pretoria-Witwatersrand-Vaal (PWV) branch of the ANC.

The collection therefore documents in the main the processes of negotiating the end of Apartheid, the re-structuring of the ANC and preparing the country for its first democratic elections. The collection comprises the following discrete foci:

The suspension of the armed struggle and control of violence (Groote Schuur Minute)

The release of political prisoners and the question of indemnity (Pretoria Minute)

The National Peace Accord

Strategies, campaigns and conferences for a peaceful and negotiated end to Apartheid

Michelle Friedman, commissioned by the South African History Archive (SAHA), conducted a comprehensive interview with Barbara Hogan about the latter's imprisonment in 1982 and her experiences at the hands of the security police. The interview serves to complement this collection. It is accessible upon request under the collection number AL2933

The Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA)

Publicity campaigns on issues relating to the tripartite alliance of the ANC/SACP/COSATU

Campaigns to end violence between hostel dwellers and township residents

Campaigns to normalise relations between the ANC and Inkatha

Campaign to popularise the ANC throughout the country

Patriotic Front conference

ANC Anniversary conferences

The relationship between the ANC and the United Democratic Front (UDF)

ANC - African National Congress

ANCWL - African National Congress Women's League African

ANCYL - National Congress Youth League

AWEPAA - Association of West European Parliamentarians for Action Against Apartheid

CECS - Cape Educational Computer Society

CPSPD - Centre for Public Service Policy Development

CCB - Civil Cooperation Bureau

COSATU - Congress of South African Trade Unions

CBM - Consultative Business Movement

CODESA - Convention for a Democratic South Africa

DAC - Department of Arts and Culture (of the ANC)

DEP - Department of Economic Planning (of the ANC)

DIA - Department of International Affairs (of the ANC)

DRC - Dispute Resolution Committee

ERIP - Education Resource and Information Project

EC - European Community

FES - Friedrich Ebert Foundation

IFP - Inkatha Freedom Party

ICT - Institute for Contextual Theology

ICRC - International Committee of the Red Cross

ILRIG - International Labour Research and Information Group

JODAC - Johannesburg Democratic Action Committee

LHR - Lawyers for Human Rights

LDRC - Local Dispute Resolution Committee

NACSSA - National Association of Cooperative Societies of South Africa

NCC - National Campaigns Committee

NCC - National Consultative Conference

NEC - National Executive Committee

NFC - National Finance Committee

NPC - National Preparatory Committee

NWC - National Working Committee

NUM - National Union of Mineworkers

NUSAS - National Union of South African Students

OAU - Organisation of African Unity

PAC - Pan Africanist Congress

PWV - Pretoria-Witwatersrand-Vaal

REC - Regional Executive Committee

RFCC - Regional Finance Control Committee

SABMAWU - South African Black Municipal and Allied Workers' Union

SACP - South African Communist Party

SADF - South African Defence Force

SAHWC - South African Health Workers' Committee

SAIC - South African Indian Council

SAP - South African Police

SARCC - South African Railway Commuter Corporation

SARHWU - South African Railways and Harbours Workers Union

SADC - Southern African Development Community

SRC - Special Regional Council

THRA - Transvaal Hostel Residents Association

UDF - United Democratic Front

UWC - University of the Western Cape

VAT - Value-added tax

WITS - University of the Witwatersrand

VMS - World University Service

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South African born Dale McKinley became an official member of the South African Communist Party (SACP) in 1992. This followed the new blood and spirit that was now being injected into the movement by Chris Hani, (the late prominent and vibrant political activist), who had begun to earnestly encourage debates and free speech within the party. Dale initially joined the movement as a branch member of the Johannesburg Central Branch (JCB). At that time he managed an independent left-wing bookshop called 'Phambili' that operated from 1991-1994.

However, due to lack of finances, the bookshop business was not doing well so he approached the management of the SACP and suggested that the party buy it over, which it did, and now renamed 'Inkululeko books'. It was based in Yeoville, a Johannesburg neighbourhood. Although he relinquished ownership of the bookshop to the SACP, Dale continued running the shop on behalf of the party until 1995. It was realized unfortunately at this time that the financial situation of the bookshop as a business had not improved, hence it was agreed by party management that the bookshop be closed.

Following the closure of the bookshop, Dale was then deployed by the party to its headquarters to run a resource center and library. In late 1995, he became a full-time employee of the party, with the responsibility of managing the resource center and library.

From 1996 Dale became more or less an editor of the newspaper called 'Umsebenzi' meaning 'the worker'. He also became involved with political education, where he conducted programs with the unions, and was also doing work for the finance committee of the party. As far as Dale's role as a hardcore activist within the party was concerned, in 1994 he became the chairperson of the JCB. In 1996, the party decided to reinstate the Greater Johannesburg District Branch of the party which until then had fallen. Dale was the new chairperson of that district from 1996-1998.

In 1998 he was elected to the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) of the party in Gauteng Province. In early 2000 he resigned from his position as a PEC member and almost at the same time, also resigned as an employee of the party. According to Dale, he could no longer carry on with his duties as initially identified.

At this stage, he went back to the branch level of the party where he was re-elected as chairperson of the JCB, until the end of 2000, when he was expelled from the party as a result of his practical activism as a party activist (combined with his extensive critical writings) in support of a truly independent SACP that would remain true to its own programme in relation to ANC-led initiatives.

In December 1997 the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) issued former State President PW Botha with a subpoena in terms of Section 29 of the TRC enabling legislation to answer questions about the policies and activities of the State Security Council during the period of his presidency.

Botha failed to honour the subpoena and a criminal charge was laid against him. He was tried and prosecuted in the Magistrate Court of George in June 1998.

In August 1998 Botha was found guilty of the charges brought against him and was sentenced to a fine of R10 000 or twelve months imprisonment, and twelve months imprisonment suspended for five years.

Botha's subsequently successfully appealed against the conviction and sentence. The law company 'Ernst J V Penzhorn Attorneys at Law' represented him in the Appeal Division of the Cape High Court.

The Office of the Public Protector receives complaints from members of the public or government bodies who feel aggrieved by an action taken by government agencies or officials performing a public function. The Public Protector investigates the complaint and recommends corrective action and occasionally refers the complaint to Parliament, where it is debated. The Office of the Public Protector designed this synopsis of the cases it received regarding complaints involving the TRC in such a manner that the maximum of information relating to the cases be placed in the public domain, thereby promoting access to information without violating privacy rights, such as divulging the identity of the complainant. In those cases where the complaint is public knowledge, the names of the complainants are divulged.

Merle Favis was born in Johannesburg in April, 1957. She was the second child of a white liberal family. She attended a government school in Johannesburg and then proceeded to King David High School in Linksfield. While at school she became interested in politics.

After completing her high school education, Merle went to the University of Witwatersrand to study for a B.A. degree majoring in Political Studies and Industrial Sociology. After she graduated in 1979, she became an active member of NUSAS (National Union of South African Students) and the Wages Commission Assisting Unions, negotiating better salaries for their members.

Later in the 1980’s, Merle went to Durban to study for a post-graduate diploma in Adult Education at the University of Natal. She enrolled for another post-graduate degree in Public Policy and Development Administration. The June 1976 Uprisings, inspired Merle to fight Apartheid and to organise different communities to fight together for the liberation of South Africa. In 1979 she was appointed an editor for the South African Labour Bulletin. She later resigned because of internal conflicts evolving from both members of the unions and political organisations.

Merle Favis was arrested for her involvement in political activities in 1981 while working in Durban. After serving five months in detention without charge, she was released. Her work at the University of Natal as a manager for Community Welfare Funding gave her more time to organise various communities. While at Durban, she was able to work with the Indian Congress, the United Democratic Front and the Durban Democratic Association.

Noel Francis Stott matriculated from Sea Point Boys' High School, Cape Town, South Africa, in 1977. Between 1978 and 1980, he was a student at the University of Cape Town (UCT), and obtained a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree with majors in Psychology and Biblical/Religious Studies. In 1981 he was awarded a Higher Diploma in Library and Information Science (HDLIS).

From 1982 to 1983, Noel was conscripted into the South African Defence Force (SADF) and was assigned to Military Intelligence (MI). During this time he secretly supplied information to the then banned African National Congress (ANC). In early 1984, he was detained in connection with the Treason Trial of Roland Hunter and Trish and Derek Hanekom for allegedly passing on sensitive information to Hunter. Due to the nature of the information at Hanekom and Hunter's disposal (regarding SADF support for Renamo), the trial was held in camera and Noel was never charged.

Between 1984 and 1986, Noel was employed by UCT in various capacities, inter- alia Social Sciences and Humanities Subject Librarian and Acting Head, Law Library. In 1985 he completed a B. Bibl. (Honours) degree.

In 1986, Noel joined an underground cell of the African National Congress being deployed to work in the 'church as a site of struggle'.

He established a library for the Order of Jesus (Jesuits) in Johannesburg in 1986, before being appointed Documentation and Research Officer for the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC) in September 1986, a position he held until July 1989. In August 1989, he was appointed Co-ordinator of the Communications Department and Documentation Officer of the Institute for Contextual Theology (ICT), a position he held until February 1992.

In August 1988, at a press conference, Noel publicly refused to render further service in the SADF.

Since 1992 Noel has served in administrative and research capacities for many NGOs, including faith-based and ecumenical institutes such as:

Research Institute for Christianity in South Africa (RICSA)

Theology Exchange Programme (TEP)

Centre for South-South Relations (CSSR)

Community Agency for Social Enquiry (CASE)

Environmental Monitoring Group (EMG)

Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR)

Noel has further served as a researcher at the University of Ulster, Londonderry/Derry, Northern Ireland, on the topics: "Human Rights NGOs and the Difficulties of Transition: Lessons for Civil Society in South Africa, Northern Ireland and Palestine", and ''Developing and Implementing Public Policy: A comparative understanding of the factors influencing policy development and implementation in the negotiated transitions in Northern Ireland and South Africa''.

He is now (2005) employed as a Senior Research at the Arms Management Programme of the Institute of Security Studies (ISS).

In 1997, Noel was elected onto the Co-ordination Committee of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) - a position he held until 2003.

Achievements and Awards:

Noel was one of its two African representatives to receive the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the ICBL in December 1997.

In 1997, Noel was awarded the Friendship Medal (Agreement Number 2628) by the Council of State of the Republic of Cuba, "in recognition to his constant actions of political and material support with the Cuban Revolution and of condemnation to the imperialist blockade on Cuba".

In 1997, he was awarded the SANGONeT "Networker of the Year Award" for the "effective use of electronic communications in advocacy, solidarity work and in the development of a cross border civil society".

Involvement in the Mass Democratic Movement in South Africa:

Throughout his career, Noel has organised and/or participated in many conferences and courses relating to issues of international solidarity. He has authored and co-authored numerous publications.

Noel has actively served on many other community based organisations, including:

Member of the Executive Committee of The Johannesburg Democratic Action Committee (JODAC), a progressive organisation affiliated to the United Democratic Front (UDF) that worked to draw members of the white community into the struggle for a non-racial, democratic South Africa. This organisation disbanded during 1990 after the African National Congress (ANC) was unbanned.

Committee member of the National Co-ordinating Committee (UDF-NCC), an affiliation of progressive organisations (UDF) working in the white areas, including JODAC.

Member of the Executive Committee of Five Freedoms Forum (FFF), an organisation created to draw members of the white community into the struggle, but which was more broadly based in the white community than JODAC. The FFF is perhaps best known for facilitating a visit by 100 white South Africans to the then still banned African National Congress (ANC) in Lusaka in 1989.

Consultant and contributor to the Popular History Trust (PHT-Zimbabwe)

Founding member and now Trustee of the South African History Archive (SAHA).

Member and Director of WORKNET (now SANGONET) - an electronic communications system created for use by trade unions, service organisations and the alternative media in South Africa.

Chairperson of the Gauteng Branch of the Friends of Cuba Society (FOCUS - Gauteng) for three years. Noel attended the first World Meeting of Solidarity with Cuba in Havana, Cuba in 1994 and led the first ever-African Brigade to Cuba in 1996. He was centrally involved in the conceptualisation and organisation of the Southern African-Cuba Solidarity Conference in 1995.

Co-ordination Committee member of the International Campaign to Ban Anti-personnel Landmines (ICBL) and founding member of the South African Campaign to Ban Landmines (SACBL).