The Sound Archives collects and receives material from all the SABC Public Broadcast Services (PBS) Radio Services of which selected material is catalogued and stored in the various archive repositories across the country.
A small percentage of the collection is donated by former staff or the public, and includes 78 r.p.m. disks, old broadcast tapes, jingles, etc.
The Sound Archives has initiated an oral history project. The project focuses on supplementing the Sound Archive catalogue by including interviews with personalities broadcast by the SABC. In addition, it has established a collection of natural and habitat sounds of Southern Africa.
The SABC Sound Archives preserves material for the following reasons:
- To preserve SABC broadcasts and raw material as a corporate function;
- To be of service as a well-organised source of broadcast material to the SABC;
- To preserve permanently highlights in the history of the development and broadcast patterns of broadcasting in South Africa;
- To bequeath to future generations an audio-image of South Africa at certain periods as it was portrayed by the SABC;
- To provide researchers with information and facts on sound carriers that are not available in any other form;
- To preserve, as part of the National Broadcaster’s function and as far as possible, complete recordings of the South African culture (legends and oral traditions) including a comprehensive set of nature and habitat sounds of South Africa
The following languages are archived:
- English
- Afrikaans
- isiNdebele
- Setswana
- SePedi
- Venda
- Tsonga
- isiSwazi
- Sesotho
- isiZulu
- isiXhosa
The Collections:
Afrikaans collection includes interviews, discussions, dramas, short stories, documentaries, dramas, and many more. The collection includes material relating to a broad spectrum relating to Cultural History, Religion, the Entertainment Industry, Literature etc.
English collection includes interviews, discussions, dramas, short stories, documentaries, dramas, and many more. The collection includes material relating to a broad spectrum relating to Cultural History, Religion, the Entertainment Industry, Literature etc.
Ndebele collection includes interviews, discussions, dramas, short stories, documentaries, dramas, and many more. The collection includes material relating to a broad spectrum relating to Cultural History, Religion, the Entertainment Industry, Literature etc.
Music collection includes both classical and contemporary music. Music archiving focuses predominantly on South African music and musicians. The music collection includes:
- Interviews with composers and musicians
- Recordings of national music events
- Discussions
- Performances
- A 78 r.p.m. collection of South African recording labels
Sport collection includes a selection of broadcast sport types events and include segments of commentary or full commentary of real time action as well as, interviews, discussions, and speeches by sport personalities, experts and leaders.
News & Actuality collection includes local, national and international news events such as the opening of parliament, inauguration of the State President, national elections, as well as, interviews, news commentary, speeches by State Presidents, Premiers and other prominent figures and leaders.
Contact numbers for all your enquiries and requests:
Music and Ndebele requests
Refiloe Jele
T. 011 714 4879.
E. jeler@sabc.co.za
Afrikaans and English requests
Retha Roux
T. 011 714 2772.
E. rouxr@sabc.co.za
News and Actuality and Sport requests
Bernard Monyai
T. 011 714 4881.
E. monyain@sabc.co.za
Manager: Bennie Jacobs
T. 011 714 4880
C. 0832651222
F. 0117144281
E. jacobsb@sabc.co.za
Contact numbers for ordering material from the Sound Archive collections:
T. 011 714 4709
T. 011 714 4681
E. rpsales@sabc.co.za
Please note that the Sound Archive material is copyright protected and might not be available.
