Abstract
This chapter assessed privacy and access of the liberation movements archives of South Africa. The study is based on personal experience of working with the liberation movement archives and review of literature on privacy and accessibility. The discussion was based on the liberation movements archives, privacy legislation, accountability, purpose specifications, donation of third party archives, information quality, confidentiality and security of archives, electronic records management systems, digitization of liberation movement archives, data subject participation, openness and transparency, public records, establishment of governance structure, raising awareness and training, partnership and collaboration, and access to liberation archives. Liberation movements are to ensure that they comply with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013.
TopLiberation Movements Archives
The liberation movements commenced with the repatriation of ther archives after the unbanning of political organisations in 1990 by then President F.W De Klerk. The repatriation of archives was done with the aim of renewing dialogues around liberation movements archives. Liberaton movement for example the ANC developed an archives repatriation programme or project to repatriate liberation movements archives scattered all over the world. Consideration was taken that some of the repatriated archives contain private and confidential information which may damage image of organisation. These liberation movements archives not only document the historical, cultural and economic development of South Africa but provide basis for South Africa identity. South Africa public knowledge of the history of the liberation and oppression was part of heritage of South Africa.Citizens has the right to know the history of the South African liberation past. Hence there was a need to balance privacy and access to information on the liberation archives in South Africa. The liberation movements also provide evidence of the role played by military veterans of UMkhonto We Sizwe, military wing of the ANC. Therefore process and procedures were developed to control access to liberation movements archives.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Liberation Movement Archives: These are Liberation movements Archives created within and outside South Africa between 1960 to 1960
Apartheid: It is a racial or discriminatory policies established by the National party in 1948, when they came to power to segregate people in terms of race or colour.
Archives repatriations: This is a process of retaining archives materials stored in the foreign countries and missions.
Archives: These are records which were permanently preserved by organisation because its records contains historical, cultural and social significance.
African National Congress: This is the main political organization in South Africa established in 1912 to protect the right of disadvantaged groups such as black people.
Missions Office: These are offices, as a sort of embassy, established by the liberation movements after they were banned.
Liberation Movements: These are political movements established to fought against the apartheid movements such as the African National Congress, Pan Afrinast Congress and Pan African Congress, Azanian People Organisation.
Anit – Apartheid Movements: These are organisations established during the apartheid period to fight against the apartheid system.
Privacy: This is archives materials restricted to access by certain individuals in organizations.