Johannesburg, South Africa – A collection of Sol Plaatje’s historic papers has been returned to South Africa and is now housed at the William Cullen Library at Wits University. These papers, which were deposited at the SOAS Library at the University of London for safekeeping in 1977, were handed over in a ceremony held on October 8, 2024. The event marked a significant moment in preserving the legacy of one of South Africa’s most prominent historical figures.
Former Wits Vice-Chancellor and current SOAS University of London Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adam Habib, was responsible for returning the papers. Speaking at the ceremony, Habib reflected on how South African leaders were often forced to leave the country in the past, taking important heritage items with them. The papers, given to SOAS by a donor, were always intended to return to South Africa.
The papers were officially handed over to Wits’ current Vice-Chancellor, Professor Zeblon Vilakazi. Vilakazi welcomed the return, describing it as a reflection of the partnership between Wits and SOAS and stressing the importance of ensuring these historical documents serve not only South Africa but the global community. He added that the collection would be digitised to be accessible to people worldwide.
The Sol Plaatje papers have been a key part of Wits’ Historical Papers Research Archive since the 1970s. The original collection included materials deposited by historians from South Africa, the UK, and the US, as well as a notebook kept by Plaatje during the Siege of Mafeking during the South African War. The newly returned papers include Plaatje’s Canadian passport, notebooks, rare publications, press cuttings, and source materials for his writings.
Habib described SOAS as a bridge between the Global North and South, noting the importance of sharing heritage with the world as part of a broader conversation on decolonisation. He also praised the ongoing partnership between SOAS and Wits, which includes collaborative academic programmes, and expressed hope for continued cooperation in addressing global challenges.
The Sol Plaatje collection is available to the public both digitally and at the William Cullen Library on Wits’ Braamfontein campus.
