CONTENTS

1.  Southern African Historical Society                        
1.1  Editorial                                        
1.2  2009 SAHS Conference:  First call for papers                
1.3  Message from the treasurer:  Subscription fees                
1.4  Message from the editors of the South African Historical Journal    
1.5  State of the National Archives:  Update by Prof Jane Carruthers (President, SAHS)                                    

2.  Future conferences and fellowship program                    
2.1  Research School of Humanities, College of Arts and Social Sciences, The Australian National University:  Call for papers                    
2.2  Research School of Humanities, College of Arts and Social Sciences, The Australian National University:  2010 Visiting fellowship program        

3.  Van Riebeeck Society:  Eavesdrop on the past for R120 p.a.            

4.  News from History Departments                            
4.1  UNISA                                        
4.2  University of Pretoria                                
4.3  University of Johannesburg                            
4.4  University of the Free State                            
4.5  University of Stellenbosch                            
 

1.  South African Historical Society
1.1  Editorial
A “new era”, a “watershed”, a “turning point”, a “new beginning”, “new hope”…  Only some of the phrases used to describe political and economic developments, both nationally and internationally, during the last couple of months. 2008 has really generated enough history to keep historians busy for a long time.

For the SAHS, 2008 has also brought a number of changes that – although not as ground breaking as the Obama and Shikota developments and the international economic crises – hopefully will propel the Society into an orbit of renewed growth and renewal that will help it reclaim its position as the official and primary mouthpiece of professional historians in Southern Africa.

The South African Historical Journal agreement with Unisa Press, Routledge (Taylor and Francis Group) and the new look journal it produced, a new website for the Society that is nearing completion, a drive to increase the membership of the Society (although a perusal of the SAHS membership list reveals the absence of many prominent Southern African historians) and the forthcoming 2009 SAHS conference are some of the initiatives and changes referred to above – of which some aspects are also covered in the newsletter.

We want to make use of this opportunity to thank History Departments that responded positively to our call for news items for the newsletter. There still is, however, much room for improvement as many prominent History Departments are still absent from our list of contributors.

We would like to wish all our members a safe, enjoyable festive season and happy new year – with many NEW members for the SAHS!

Anton Ehlers (Secretary, SAHS)

1.2  2009 SAHS Conference:  First call for papers
FIRST CALL FOR PAPERS: 22nd Biennial Conference of the Southern African Historical Society.

THEME
Breaking boundaries, blurring borders: The changing shape and scope of southern African historical studies

DATE AND VENUE
Unisa Sunnyside Campus, Monday to Wednesday, 22-24 June 2009

APPLICATIONS
These will be accepted through the Society’s website early in 2009. The site is still under construction. Until such time, please contact the Society’s President and conference organiser, Jane Carruthers This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

COST
The conference fee will be as follows:
Members: R1 500
Non-members:  R2 000
Bona fide students:  R700

ACCOMMODATION:
Because Unisa has no student residences which can be made available, all accommodation will have to be arranged privately. A list of B&Bs will be circulated in due course.

DETAILS
Breaking boundaries, blurring borders: The changing shape and scope of southern African historical studies

This is a first call for papers for the 22nd Biennial Conference of the Southern African Historical Society.

The historical and political terrain is very different from what it was when the Society was founded in 1965. History needs to be dynamic, have a strong sense of purpose, and be free of barriers which isolate and insulate. We intend this 2009 conference to be a wide-ranging and interdisciplinary gathering as far as possible and to take the opportunity to interrogate and even renegotiate the intersections of all the disciplines that share and deal with the southern African past. We would be delighted if the body of scholarship produced at this meeting encompassed as many understandings and pathways as possible that might explain or illuminate how we have come to be where we are. History does not have exclusive rights on the past, and for this conference we envisage history as a broad discipline, neither narrow in focus nor defensive in attitude, but open to collaboration, contact and even crossings with other disciplines. We would like to enlarge our understanding of the past, to attract fresh scholarship through different channels and even to explore the very boundaries of our fields of study.  

In addition to the transformations within history that have occurred since the 1960s, southern African politics generally and the position of the region in African affairs has also changed. Boundaries between countries and regions have blurred in terms of politics, ideologies and economics and new configurations have arisen. All these historical developments require interrogation. The fact that this conference is being held at Unisa, which has a strong African outreach, also alerts us to the significance of our continental position.

In recent years, history has become an inclusive discipline, taking account of fresh sources, trans-national concerns and inter- and multi-disciplinarity. John Dryden’s line ‘Thin partitions do their bounds divide’ (Absalom and Achitophel, line 150) aptly describes the close connections between archaeology, anthropology, literature, economics, geography, heritage studies, political science, as well as among the various sub-disciplines of history itself – social, environmental, political, military, economic, cultural or art. Such disciplinary intersections have been invigorating.

We welcome work on extended periods and from a variety of perspectives on broad themes such as, but not limited to:
 
• archaeology and pre-colonial studies
• cross-cultural history
• environment, disease, water and energy
• land settlement, food and agriculture
• gender and sexuality
• identity, nationalism and imperialism
• museums and heritage
• religion and belief
• science and technology
• southern Africa in African Studies
• trans-nationalism and globalisation
• urban, business and industrial history
• violence and war, democracy, xenophobia and migration
• visual history

We would like to include debate sessions, roundtables, discussions around new books, sessions on publishing academic research, and teaching and disseminating history in this conference. We welcome ideas and suggestions that would facilitate these conversations and the sharing of ideas.

As is becoming the internationally accepted norm, ideally we would like contributors to convene panels of 3-4 connected papers and suggest appropriate chairpersons and submit these to the organisers. However, we also invite individual papers which the organisers will try to group into appropriate panels. In particular we would like to encourage poster sessions, particularly from students, but also from established historians (guidelines will be provided if required). There will be a poster presentation session. There will be an adjudication process for paper and panel proposals that are submitted.

The editors of the South African Historical Journal will be actively canvassing papers from the conference with the intention of publishing a special issue, a selection of papers, or individual papers depending on merit of submissions and feasibility of production.

1.3  Message from the treasurer:  Subscription fees
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE TREASURER:
DR MUCHA MUSEMWA
2009 SUBSCRIPTIONS
Subscriptions for 2009 have been set as follows and we would welcome renewal payments from members as soon as possible.

African and South African members: R200 (please make payment in ZAR)
International members: US$50 or UK£35 (This is roughly the equivalent of R200 plus R140 that the Society has to pay in bank charges).

If you have any queries, please contact:
THE TREASURER, DR MUCHA MUSEMWA
SOUTHERN AFRICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY
UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND
P.O. WITS 2050
E-MAIL: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Electronic payment can be made to:
Current/cheque account: Southern African Historical Society
ABSA Bank, Brooklyn Branch
Account number 4066254287
Please use your name as the depositor.
Please confirm proof of payment by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

1.4  Message from the editors of the South African Historical Journal
By the time you read this, you ought to have received two issues of the Journal: volume 60, no 1 (March 2008) and volume 60, no 2 (June 2008). We do realise that these issues are late; our excuse this time is that the transition to the new publishing arrangements has had its hiccups and teething troubles, but these have now settled and we are catching up. Volume 60, no 3 (September 2008) ought to reach you by the end of November, and Volume 60, no 4 (December 2008) ought to be out by the end of January 2009. Thereafter, we hope that we will publish regularly and on time.

You will notice that the Journal is thinner – but you are not being short-changed. We have a more economical format; we publish four times a year instead of twice; and, thus far, the same number of words is being printed as in the past.

We hope that you like the ‘new look’ Journal – and we would appreciate comment from members of the Society regarding further improvements to it.

Further developments to report are the following:

1) The Journal can be accessed through the internet portal of Taylor and Francis. We also hope and expect that all back issues – dating back to Volume 1 (1969) – will be available within the next two months:

    http://www.informaworld.com/openurl?genre=journal&issn=1726-1686

2) We have a new submissions platform, and from now on discourage submissions directly to our postal or email addresses. We prefer submissions to be made through the following website, belonging to Manuscript Central, which allows the tracking of an article from its initial submission through the peer review process and revision through to publication:

    http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/rshj

This website ought to make the lives of editors and contributors much easier, as it will always be possible to see where your article is in terms of the process of publication.
 
3) Our international publishers, Routledge (Taylor & Francis Group), will be hosting an international launch of the Journal on Saturday, 15 November, in Chicago, at the African Studies Association conference. Although we do not anticipate that the event will be as well-attended as that in Grant Park in Chicago earlier this week, on Tuesday 4 November, we hope it will go well! We hope that all historians present will attend the function, and report back to us about it.
 
As always, we remain keen to hear from members of the Society, and in particular we encourage submissions to the Journal from you, as well as ideas about what could be published. Please keep us informed about any conferences and academic gatherings at which we could canvass material, and promote the Journal where you can.
Nick Southey and Cynthia Kros

1.5  State of the National Archives:  Update from Professor Jane Carruthers (President SAHS)
Many members and students have been disappointed in the quality of service offered by the Archives and have brought these to our attention. Our fellow society, the Historical Association of South Africa has received the same complaints. The President of HASA, Professor Johan Bergh (University of Pretoria), and I had a meeting with the National Archivist, Dr Graham Dominy, in order to open regular channels of communication between the National Archives and the two societies that serve professional historians in South Africa. Its objective was to share information and to discuss mutual difficulties and problems.

We discussed how a number of historians had been critical of service and expertise in the National Archives. A lack of institutional memory, competency and even basic knowledge had been noted. In addition, an absence of common policy among archives (e.g. photography) had led to considerable student dissatisfaction in Cape Town. Dr Dominy explained that the retention of qualified staff at the archives was extremely difficult. Only university graduates are employed (not necessarily with history as a major subject) but they are paid very little. One a pay-scale that ranges from 1-18 they are placed on a grade of 6, while secretaries (without any tertiary education) are placed on grade 7 upwards. If an archivist can move out of the archives and into a bureaucratic position in the Department of Arts and Culture – generally after receiving a good training at the archives which is then lost – the pay-scale rises immediately. It is clear that the lack of commitment to a job in the archives and the low salary that is offered is evident at the level of the public.

In order to retain staff and increase morale and knowledge among both historians and archivists, the suggestion was made that HASA and SAHS, together with Departments of Historical Studies throughout South Africa might ameliorate the situation by
• creating internships for MA and PhD students at the archives
• devising research projects for senior students (3rd year and Honours) that required familiarity with the archives (e.g. research packs)
• using the archives as much as possible which would assist in knowledge transfer. At present, the archives are inundated with genealogists and archivists become more familiar with this line of work than any other
• writing memoranda expressing comment/dissatisfaction/suggestion to the Director-General, particularly on the subject of the need for higher salaries to retain qualified and knowledgeable archivists

As well as the bedevilling staffing issues, Dr Dominy explained that at the moment there was a lack of space for new collections to be accessed into the archives  in Pretoria (this would be eventually addressed when the new archives building was completed and operating). It had been hoped that the present archives building might be revamped in the interim, but this was proving to be impossible because it did not meet modern building standards. There are also challenges around the relationships between the Archives Council and the various provincial archives, over which the National Archives does not have control. As any glance at the website will show, a number of provinces do not even have archives legislation.

It was extremely good to meet and to be able to talk freely and I thank Dr Dominy for the opportunity to do so. It was agreed that regular meetings between the National Archivist and the two professional societies should be arranged to discuss practical matters and focus on identifying means of co-operation for mutual benefit.

There were two other matters:
• It was noted with pleasure that Professor Carolyn Hamilton had been awarded an NRF research chair Archive and Public Culture.
• It was agreed that there would be a panel discussion on the archives at the Southern African Historical Society conference to be held at Unisa on 22-24 June 2009 and, if successful and effective, these would be arranged for future conferences of the HASA and SAHS.

2.  Future conferences and fellowship program
2.1  Research School of Humanities, College of Arts and Social Sciences, The Australian National University:  Call for papers
• Research School of Humanities, College of Arts and Social Sciences, The Australian National University:  Conference 14-16 April 2009.
o Theme:  Testimony, Trauma and Social Suffering: New Contexts/New Framings
o http://rsh.anu.edu.au/events/2009/testimonytraumaandsocialsuffering/index.php
o Conveners:  Dr Rosanne Kennedy, ANU, E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and Professor Gillian Whitlock, University of Queensland, E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
o Venue: ANU

• 2-4 September 2009
o Theme: Limits of the Human: Philosophical, Historical and Ecological Perspective
o (http://rsh.anu.edu.au/events/2009/limitsofbeinghuman/index.php
o Conveners:  Dr Debjani Ganguly, RSH, ANU, E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and Dr Fiona Jenkins, ANU, E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
o Venue: ANU
• 2-3 October 2009
o Theme:  Reworking the Regency
o (http://rsh.anu.edu.au/events/2009/reworkingtheregency/index.php)
o Convener:  Dr Gillian Russell, ANU, E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and Dr Clara Tuite, University of Melbourne, E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
o Venue: University of Melbourne
• 10-12 February 2010
o Theme:  Never the Twain?: East and West Cultural Self-Images in Auto/Biography
o ( http://rsh.anu.edu.au/events/2010conferences.php)
o Conveners: Professor Peter Read, Department of History, Sydney University;  Professor Craig Howes, Biography Institute, University of Hawaii;  Professor Brij Lal, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, ANU;  Associate Professor Maureen Perkins, Curtin University
o Venue: ANU
Enquiries:
• Leena Messina.  Programs Manager | Research School of Humanities | College of Arts and Social Sciences.  Old Canberra House (Building 73) | Lennox Crossing | The Australian National University | Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia |
• T: 61 2 6125 4357(phone and voicemail)
F: 61 2 6125 1380
E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
URL: http://rsh.anu.edu.au

2.2  Research School of Humanities, College of Arts and Social Sciences, The Australian National University:  2010 Visiting fellowship program
RSH 2010 Visiting Fellowship Program
Research School of Humanities, College of Arts and Social Sciences, The Australian National University
The Research School of Humanities has been established by the Australian National University in 2007 by amalgamating four key Centres of the University – the renowned Humanities Research Centre, the Centre for Cross Cultural Research, the National Europe Centre and the Australian National Dictionary Centre.

The RSH builds on research fostered by these Centres and seeks to promote innovative research in the Humanities. Its Visiting Fellowship program is an enhancement of the program offered by the HRC since the 1970s and provides funds to support scholars to work in the Research School. Applications are particularly welcome from scholars with interests in one or more of the RSH’s research programs and especially from those whose current projects relate to the RSH 2010 Annual Theme of ‘Imaging Identity’. Applications for fellowships to the Freilich Foundation and the National Europe Centre are also welcomed.

The key research programs of the RSH include:
• Visual Culture
• History and Memory
• Biography and Life Writing
• Culture, Heritage and the Environment
• Public Cultures and Museums
• World Literature
• Postcolonial Studies
• Digital Humanities
Application are now open and guidelines, application and referees comment forms can be downloaded the RSH website (follow the links): http://rsh.anu.edu.au/

Enquiries:
Leena Messina.  Programs Manager | Research School of Humanities | College of Arts and Social Sciences.  Old Canberra House (Building 73) | Lennox Crossing | The Australian National University | Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia |

T: 61 2 6125 4357(phone and voicemail)
F: 61 2 6125 1380
E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
URL: http://rsh.anu.edu.au

3.  Van Riebeeck Society:  Eavesdrop on the past for R120 p.a.
The Van Riebeeck Society for the Publication of Southern African Historical Documents (VRS) is 90 years old this year. To mark this occasion it is offering special deals to members of the SA Historical Society on some of its volumes, as follows:

• 4 volumes of John X. Merriman’s Letters for R250 (or R200 if you become a member first)   
• 2 facsimile reprint volumes on the wreck of the Grosvenor for R190 (or R150 if you become a member first)
• 3 volumes on the South African War (War Memoirs of Commandant Ludwig Krause, A. E. Hilder’s A Canadian Mounted Rifleman at War and The War Diary of Burgher Jack Lane) for R250 (or R200 if you become a member first)
•  2 volumes on African societies in the Northern Cape/Botswana (Griqua Records of the Philippolis Captaincy and Words of Batswana: Letters to Mahoko a Becwana 1883-1896) for R190 (or R150 if you become a member first)
•  2 volumes on the Cape under the V.O.C.(Briefwisseling van Hendrik Swellengrebel Jr, 1779-1792 and Hendrik Cloete, Groot Constantia en die VOC 1778-1799) for R190 (or R150 if you become a member first)
NB. None of the above prices includes postage
In case you don’t know, the VRS was founded in 1918 with the purpose of making well edited versions of primary sources available in a readable and accessible form to anyone interested in Southern African history. Since then one volume has been published every year. Membership is currently R120 p.a. (registered students R70 p.a.), in return for which members receive the volume printed that year and the right to purchase back volumes at reduced prices.
To find out more about the VRS or to join, visit our website where you can find a membership application form at www.vanriebeecksociety.co.za or contact Cora Ovens, the secretary, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone her at 021 423 8424 Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays 9.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. Alternatively, you can attend a series of 5 lectures on the VRS at UCT’s Summer School between 19 and 23 January 2009.
4.  News from History Departments
4.1  UNISA
4.1.1  Address and contact numbers of Department: UNISA
Department of History, UNISA, PO Box 392, 0003
Admin officer: Ms A Theron 012-429-6842 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

4.1.2  Current Staff
Head of the Department:
• Prof Russel Viljoen (NRF-rated) This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Associate Professors:
• Prof Jane Carruthers (NRF-rated) ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Prof Johannes du Bruyn This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Prof Alex Mouton  (NRF-rated) This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Senior Lecturers:
• Dr Tilman Dedering (NRF-rated) This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Dr Steve Phatlane This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Dr Dion_ Prinsloo This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (to retire 31 December 2008)
• Mr Nicholas Southey This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Lecturers:
• Ms Melanda Blom This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Ms Henriëtte Lubbe This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Ms AH van Wyk This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

4.1.3  Research Fellows:
• Prof Gerrit Schutte
• Prof Norman Etherington
• Prof Zolani Ngwane
• Prof Andy Manson
• Prof John Higginson
• Prof Dunbar Moodie
• Prof Alan Jeeves
• Dr Bridget Theron.

4.1.4  Conferences attended, papers delivered and publications: August to October 2008:
Prof Jane Carruthers:
• Public lecture: Ruth Edgecombe Environmental Challenge Memorial Lecture in the Colin Webb Hall, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, 1 October 2009: “Environmental History: Complex connections around the constancy of change”.
• Article: ‘“Wilding the farm or farming the wild?” The evolution of scientific game ranching in southern Africa, 1960s to the present’, Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa 63(2) 2008: 160-181.
• Attended workshop by the Transboundary Protected Areas Research Initiative (TPARI), University of Johannesburg, held at Dinokeng: ‘Community engagement towards best practice in social research in rural communities’ July 2008.
Dr Tilman Dedering:
• Publication: ‘Ostpolitik and the Relations between West Germany and South Africa’ in Carol Fink and Bernd Schaefer (eds.), Ostpolitik, 1969-1974. European and Global Responses (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008)
Dr Dion_ Prinsloo:
• First Hannes Hattingh Memorial Lecture, Centurion 11 August 2008: “Een mens maak ‘n verskil: Hannes Hattingh as kultuurmens.”
Prof Russel Viljoen
• Prof Viljoen took part in the panel discussion: The Africanisation of the curriculum and higher education on 26 September 2008 at UNISA. This colloquium was arranged by the Research Directorate, Grauate School and the Office of the Vice-Principal: Academic and Research.

4.1.5  Students numbers
Second semester 2008
• Undergraduate students: 1134
• Hons: 58
• MA: 6
• DPhil: 12

4.2  THE DEPARTMENT OF HISTORICAL AND HERITAGE STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA
4.2.1  Address and contact numbers of Department:
Department of Historical and Heritage Studies
University of Pretoria
Pretoria
0002
Telephone:  012-4202323
Fax:  012-4202656
e-mail:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

4.2.2  Current staff:
• Bergh, J.S., BA(Hons)(Stell) MA(Unisa) DPhil(Stell) LAkad(SA), Professor (Head of Department)
• Ferreira, O.J.O., BA(Hons)(UFS) MA DPhil(Pret) DLitt et Phil THED(Unisa) LAkad(SA), Honorary Professor
• Phimister, I.R., BA(Hons)(Nottingham) BA(Hons Special) DPhil(Rhodesia), Honorary Professor
• Harris, K.L., BA (Hons) MA(Stell) DLitt et Phil(Unisa) HED(Stell), Professor
• Mlambo, A.S., BA(Hons)(Canterbury UK) MA(SOAS) MA(Wesleyan Connecticut USA) PhD(Duke, North Carolina, USA), Professor
• Pretorius, F., BA(Hons) MA(Pret) Drs Litt(Leiden) DLitt et Phil(Unisa) LAkad(SA), Professor
• Kriel, L., BA(Hons) MA DPhil(Pret), Associate Professor
• Grobler, J.E.H.,  BA(Hons) MA DPhil(Pret), Senior Lecturer
• Machaba, A., BA(Hons)(Vista) MA(UP) SED(Vista), Lecturer
• Sevenhuysen, K., BA(Hons) MA HOD(Pret) L Akad (SA), Lecturer
• Thotse, M.L., BA(Hons) MA(Pret)  Postgraduate Diploma in Heritage and Museum Studies (Pret), Lecturer
The Department also utilizes, on a limited scale, the expertise of professionals with practical experience as part-time lecturers in Heritage and Museum Studies and Heritage and Cultural Tourism.

4.2.3  Visiting academics in 2008:
• On 23 July 2008, Sven Ouzman (Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Pretoria) delivered a seminar on “Anarchaeology of graffiti in post-Apartheid southern Africa”.
• On 6 August 2008, Tilman Dedering (Department of History, University of South Africa) delivered a seminar on “The League of Nations and protest and rebellion in Namibia: transnational aspects”.
• On 7 August 2008, Adelia Carstens and Karen Horn (Unit for Academic Literacy, University of Pretoria) delivered a seminar on “Designing an essay-writing module for 2nd year students of history”.
• On 14 August 2008, John Wright (Universities of KwaZulu-Natal and the Witwatersrand) delivered a seminar on “The making and unmaking of Shaka Zulu”.
• On 3 September 2008, Alex Lichtenstein (Department of History, Florida International University) delivered a seminar on “Works committees or trade unions?  South African industrial relations in the wake of the Durban strikes, 1973-1979”.
• On 4 September 2008, Saul Dubow (Department of History, Sussex University) delivered a seminar on “State, nation and race.  Two centuries of science in South Africa”.
• On 18 September 2008, Laura Evans and Rachel Johnson, both from the Department of History, University of Sheffield, delivered a double seminar on “Forced relocation in the Eastern Cape:  the making and meaning of homeland spaces” and “’The individual and the sayable’ _ trying to understand testimony of Apartheid era human rights violations”.
• On 22 October 2008, Bronwyn Strydom (UP Archives), delivered a seminar on “University histories:  reconsidering the early history of the University of Pretoria”.

4.2.4  Appointments to Councils and Committees
• Lawrence Thotse has been appointed by the Minister as member of the Council of the War Museum of the Boer Republic from October 2007 to October 2009.  He also serves in the Gauteng Geographical Names Committee appointed by the MEC for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation from March 2008 to March 2011.
• Fransjohan Pretorius, elected as Chair person for 2008 for the NRF committee rating scientists in historical studies.
• Fransjohan Pretorius, elected on the Council and Executive Committee of the Council of the Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns (2008-2011).

4.2.5  Research projects
• Fransjohan Pretorius (on sabbatical this year)
o Have completed an encyclopedia entitled Historical dictionary of the Anglo-Boer War to appear at Scarecrow Press, Lanham, Maryland, USA, March 2009 (lvii + 641 p.)
o Editor of a series on South African history for secondary schools, a project by the History Commission of the Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie.vir Wetenskap en Kuns, publication date 2009
o Working on the publication of Gustav Preller’s diary of the Anglo-Boer War

4.2.6  Publications (2008)
Articles
• Johan Bergh, " PJ ( Piet ) van der Merwe en DJ ( Dirk ) Kotze' aan die Stuur by Stellenbosch , 1959 - 1977 : Goue Jare of Verspeelde Geleenthede ? " , Historia , 53 (2) , November 2008 .
• Elda Grobler & Fransjohan Pretorius, “Kotie Roodt-Coetzee se bydrae tot die kultuurhistoriese museumwese in Suid-Afrika – die Transvaalmuseumfase, 1933-1964”, Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Kultuurgeskiedenis, 22(1), Junie 2008, pp. 112-135.
• Elda Grobler & Fransjohan Pretorius, “An overview: The Museums Association, the Carnegie Corporation and museums in South Africa, 1932-1938”, Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Kultuurgeskiedenis, 22(2), November 2008.
Books
• Alois Mlambo, "Historical Antecedents to Operation Murambatsvina", in M. Vambe (ed.), The Hidden Dimensions of Operation Murambatsvina in Zimbabwe (Harare: Weaver Press, 2008), 8 - 23.
Creative Output
• Short story: Fransjohan Pretorius, “Brakfontein”, in P.H. Roodt (ed), Amfiteater: Skrywerstemme van oud-Tukkies (Pretoria, Protea, 2008), pp. 124-128.
• Fransjohan Pretorius has issued a 45 minute DVD documentary (in both Afrikaans and English) on General Koos de la Rey, entitled Die Leeu van Wes-Transvaal and The Lion of the Western Transvaal.  He was the scriptwriter and presenter, with Hennie van der Merwe as director.

4.2.7  Conferences attended and papers delivered (2008):
• Karen Harris and Ria van der Merwe, "Accessible Archives: students as active users" at the "Exploring Our Cultural Heritage: Managing Archives and Records for the Present and the Future", UNISA Department Information Science Archives Conference 2008
• Fransjohan Pretorius, “Boer propaganda during the South African War of 1899-1902”. Paper at conference entitled “Justifying War”, University of Kent, UK, Canterbury, 8-10 July 2008.
• Fransjohan Pretorius, “Generaal Koos de la Rey”. Paper at Book Week, Centenary of the University of Pretoria, 8 March 2008.
• Fransjohan Pretorius, “’Die strewe na ‘n beter balans.’ Die geskiedenisprojek van die Geskiedenis-kommissie van die Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns.” Paper at symposium of the Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns, Stellenbosch, 19-20 Junie 2008.
• Fransjohan Pretorius, Lectures and papers at the History departments of the University of Swansea and the University of Wolverhampton in the UK on the  Anglo-Boer War, November 2008.

4.2.8  Visiting fellowships (2008-2009):
• Thula Simpson (postdoctoral fellow in the Department from the University of London).
• Andrew Cohen (postdoctoral fellow in the Department from the University of Sheffield).

4.2.9  General:
The Department’s student organisation, Histeria with their slogan “Mad about History”, provides a special service to students in channelling student enthusiasm for historical, cultural and heritage studies.  Events, like braais, movies on historical events, museum visits, talks, outreach programmes and projects are planned throughout the year.
• On 23 September 2008, students watched the movie Amazing Grace.
• On 28 October 2008, Histeria had its year-end function (dinner and dance).  The theme was Blast from the past and students had to dress in such a way as to reincarnate their historical alter egos.

4.3  University of Johannesburg, Department of Historical Studies
4.3.1  Address and contact numbers
PO Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa
Tel:  011 559 2001
Fax:  011 559 2617
E-mail:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Web: http://www.uj.ac.za/Default.aspx?alias=www.uj.ac.za/hstd

4.3.2  Current staff
• Prof. Grietjie Verhoef (departmental chairperson) This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Mr Geoff Allen This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Mr John Allen This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Dr Midas Chawane This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Prof. Natasha Erlank (seconded to the Centre for Culture and Language in Africa) This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Mr Gerald Groenewald (new appointment) This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Prof. Louis Grundlingh This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Mr Juan Klee This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Mr Jared McDonald This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Mrs Julia Kotze (secretary) This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

4.3.3  Research projects and work in progress
• Geoff Allen
o Leading a departmental research project on the history of the Western suburbs of Johannesburg
• Midas Chawane
o Rastafarians in 20th century Johannesburg
o History of Vista University
• Natasha Erlank
o  A book-length history of mainstream black Christianity in the early-20th century, looking particularly at the way in which issues of modernity, tradition, nationalism and gender shaped the character of lived experience. This project connects to transnational currents at work in early-20th century protestant ecumenism, as well as anti-colonial nationalisms.
• Gerald Groenewald
o Kinship, entrepreneurship and social capital: The making of an urban free-burgher society in VOC Cape Town, 1652-1795
o Gender and family history at the Cape of Good Hope, 1652-1795, with special reference to slavery
• Louis Grundlingh
o Completed a research project on the history of HIV/Aids
o Leading a departmental research project on the history of the making of the University of Johannesburg
o History of leisure in 20th century South Africa
• Juan Klee
o History of Rand Afrikaans University
o Sport and politics in 20th century South Africa

• Jared McDonald
o Mission to the San in the 19th century Cape
o San ambassadors
o Methodology of tutor training for Historical Studies
• Grietjie Verhoef
o Completed a project on the history of Medihelp
o History of Sanlam
o History of family businesses in 20th century Johannesburg

4.3.4  Conferences attended and papers delivered
• Midas Chawane
o “The life world of Rastafarians of the Nyahbinghi order in Daveyton, Johannesburg”, paper delivered at the Southern African Historical Society Conference, University of Johannesburg, 24-27 June 2007
o “Participant observation in History: A case study of Rastafarianism in the township of Daveyton”, paper delivered at the Oral History Society of SA Conference, East London, 7-10 October 2008
• Louis Grundlingh
o “Efforts to recruit black South African men during the Second World War”, paper read at the workshop on ‘Re-evaluating Africa and World War II’, Rutgers University, 28-29 March 2008
• Jared McDonald
o “Fated to Fail? The Great Commission and the San, 1790-1840”, paper delivered at the Southern African Historical Society Conference, University of Johannesburg, 24-27 June 2007
o Berlin Society for Mission History Conference, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, July 2007
o “Crisis, Conflict and Co-Operation: The Fate of the San of the North-Eastern Cape Interior, 1810-1840”, paper delivered at the Biennial Conference of the Historical Association of South Africa (HASA), Rhodes University, Grahamstown, July 2008

4.3.5  Publications
• Book chapters
o N. Erlank, ‘Competing discourses of citizenship: Christianity, “rights” and citizenship in South Africa, c. 1910-1940’, in: L. Patel, Bhulungu and Uys (eds), Citizenship and Social Capital (forthcoming)
o N. Erlank, ‘Strange bedfellows: The International Missionary Council, the International African Institute and research into African marriage and family’, in: D. Maxwell & P. Harries (eds), The Secular in the Spiritual: Missionary Science (forthcoming)
o G. Groenewald, ‘Slavery and the genesis of Afrikaans’, in:  R. C.-H. Shell, S. Rowoldt Shell & M. Kamedien (eds), Bibliographies of Bondage: Selected Bibliographies of South African Slavery and Abolition (Cape Town, 2007)
o G. Groenewald, ‘A Cape bourgeoisie?: Alcohol, entrepreneurs and the evolution of an urban free-burgher society in VOC Cape Town’, in: Nigel Worden (ed.), Contingent Lives: Social Identity and Material Culture in the VOC World (Cape Town, 2007)
• Articles
o   N. Erlank, Sexuality in South Africa and South African historical writing, South African Review of Sociology (2008)
o   N. Erlank, The current state of South African feminist scholarship in the Social Sciences, African Studies 67/1 (2008)
o   N. Erlank, Universal Christian citizenship or Segregation Ascendant: South Africa and the paradoxes of international ecumenism, 1910-1940, South African Historical Journal 61 (forthcoming)
o   G. Groenewald, Een dienstig inwoonder: Entrepreneurship, social capital and identity in Cape Town, c. 1720-50, South African Historical Journal 59 (2007)
o   G. Groenewald, ‘A mother makes no bastard’: Family law, sexual relationships and illegitimacy in Dutch colonial Cape Town, c. 1652-1795, African Historical Review 39/2 (2007)
o   G. Groenewald, Een spoorloos vrouwspersoon: Unmarried mothers, moral regulation and the Church at the Cape of Good Hope, c. 1652-1795, Historia 53/2 (2008)
o   J. McDonald, Encounters at Bushman Station: Reflections on the fate of the San of the Transorangia, 1828-33, South African Historical Journal 61 (forthcoming)

4.3.6  Student numbers (at the end of first semester 2008)

First year    316
Second year    83
Third year    40
Honours    8
M.A.    10
Ph.D    5

4.3.7  Postgraduate theses completed (2008)
• Idah Makukule, ‘Amapantsula in Duduza township’, MA
• Paulo Correia, ‘Political relations between Portugal and South Africa from the end of the Second World War to 1974’, DLitt et Phil

4.3.8  Visiting Academics
• Prof. David Thelen (Indiana University, Bloomington) visited the department from May to August 2008 during which he trained our Honours students in Oral History methodology. He was the key-note speaker at the thee-day departmental workshop held during June 2008, along with Prof. Phillipe Denis (UKZN), and with guest lectures by Profs. Phil Bonner, Clive Glaser, Noor Nieftagodien (all Wits) and Thea de Wet (UJ). The aim of this workshop was to train our postgraduate students and staff members, as well as some professionals from local heritage institutions, in the issues attendant on oral history and community research. A follow-up workshop was held in August with Profs. Thelen and Sean Field (UCT). During his time here, Prof. Thelen also gave a faculty seminar on memory politics in South Africa, based on his research while at UJ.
• In addition to our own staff members and students, the departmental research seminar also hosted a number of visitors from other universities, including: Profs. Alex Mouton (Unisa), Cobus du Pisani (UNW), Tilman Dedering (Unisa) and Nigel Worden (UCT), who delivered a public lecture.
4.3.9  General
• Prof. Natasha Erlank has been seconded to the Centre for Culture and Languages in Africa (CCLA) at UJ where she serves as its founding Director.
• Prof. Grietjie Verhoef has resigned from the Department and will move to the Department of Accounting at UJ in January 2009 where she is establishing an Institute for Accounting History.

4.4  Department of History, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein
4.4.1  Publications
*    D. du Bruyn and A. Wessels, "Vrees as faktor in die regse blanke politiek in Suid-Afrika tydens die tweede dekade van die apartheidsera, 1958-1969", Journal for Contemporary History 33(1), June 2008, pp. 1 – 16.
*    A. Wessels and L. Marx, "The 1977 United Nations mandatory arms embargo against South Africa:  a historical perspective after 30 years", Journal for Contemporary History 33(1), June 2008, pp. 70-86.
*    A. Wessels, "Veertig jaar se ondersteuning ter see.  Gevegsteunskepe in die Suid-Afrikaanse Vloot, 1967 – 2007 (2):  SAS Drakensberg en SAS Outeniqua", Journal for Contemporary History 33(1), June 2008, pp. 143-164.

4.4.2  Conferences attended and papers delivered
*    A. Wessels:  The 34th Congress of the International Commission of Military History, Trieste, Italy, 31 August – 5 September 2008.
    Paper delivered:  A. Wessels, "The Anglo-Boer War (1899 – 1902) and its consequences:  a South African case study of military conflict and the civilian population".

4.4.3  Postgraduate studies completed in 2008
Ph.D.
*    J. Buys – see previous newsletter.
*    J.A.H. van den Berg, ‘n Historiese ondersoek van inklusiewe onderwys in Suid-Afrika, met spesiale verwysing na die verstandelik erg gestremde leerder in die Vrystaat, 1994 – 2006.  Supervisor:  Prof. S.L. Barnard;  Co-supervisor:  Prof. J. Hay.
*    V.Z. Nyawo, Land reform:  a comparative analysis of the Zimbabwean and South African processes since democratisation.  Supervisor:  Prof. S.L. Barnard.

4.5  Stellenbosch University
4.5.1  Publications
Books
• Wessel Visser, Van MWU tot Solidariteit. Geskiedenis van die Mynwerkersunie, 1902-2002, Solidariteit, Pretoria, 2008 (384pp).  Was launched in Pretoria in September.

4.5.2  Awards
• Prof Hermann Giliomee was awarded the Helgaard Steyn Prize for literature for his biography:  Die Afrikaners (2004).  Prof Giliomee shared the prize with Marlene van Niekerk (Agaat, 2004).  In terms of monetary value the Helgaard Steyn Prize is one of the biggest literary awards in South Africa.

4.5.3  Seminar Series
The following papers were delivered in our seminar series during the second semester:
• Leopold Scholtz:  Europa en Suid-Afrika in veranderende tye
• Robert Ross:  Why write the history of the Cat River Settlement?
• Mottie Tamarkin:  Asymmetric conflict and asymmetric balance of power: Conflict resolution in South Africa and Israel/Palestine compared
• Rocco Ronza:  Kerkvolke, zuilen and Volkpartye:  a comparative view on the rise of the ‘white subculture’ in Northern Italy and the ‘Afrikaner volk’ in South Africa
• Niel Roos:  Education / sex / leisure:  ideology, discipline and the construction of race among South African servicemen during the Second World War
• Nigel Worden:  Armed with ostrich feathers:  Order and disorder in the Cape slave uprising of 1808
• Grietjie Verhoef:  Sasol:  Strategy, Technology and Emerging market expansion, 1970-2006
• Fred Morton:  Family Memory and Historical Fiction:  Botlhale Tema’s ‘The People of Welgeval’

4.5.4 Conferences attended and papers delivered
Albert Grundlingh
• The Social Impact of Sport Governance & Management, 20th to 22nd November 2008, Università Bocconi, Milano.
o Paper:  Rands for rugby:  ramifications of the professionalisation of South African rugby, 1995-2007

4.5.5  General
• Student numbers for the second semester 2008:
o 144:  236
o 244:  88
o 348:  50
o Honors:  8
o MA:  12
o D Phil:  14
• Student History Society
o The Stellenbosch History Society was, as usual, quite active during 2008:
ß In February the annual guided tour through historical Stellenbosch took place
ß In July a "Winter Bash" social took place at Jan Katz in the Stellenbosch Hotel to drive away the winter blues
ß Langa township was visited in October
ß The academic year was ended on a high note with the annual gala dinner evening for third year and post-grad students, once again in the Stellenbosch Hotel.

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