The event with the theme, ‘Know your provincial archive, know the history of your future’, was conducted to raise awareness on the importance of proper management of records to preserve the province’s heritage and documented history. Maruleng’s mayor, Tsheko Musolwa, gave the keynote address underlining the importance of archiving.

“There is a lot of fake news daily, so it is important to archive where people can gather first-hand facts, data, and evidence from letters, reports, notes, memos, photographs, and other primary sources,” he said. “Archives provide first-hand information on the past.

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They are valuable to researchers, scholars, students, journalists, lawyers, and others who want to know about people, places, and events of the past.” He referred to the Smithsonian Institution which has varied archival collections held in fourteen different units. “June 9 was chosen to commemorate the date the ICA (International Council Archives) was created under the auspices of UNESCO in 1948,” he said.

Ba Moshate wa Letsoalo attended the event; Steve Mahlo, delegated by Ba Moshate wa Sekororo; the Ward 9 ward councillor, Reuben Maakamela; and officials from the department led by Daphney Ramokgope. The department also visited local schools.