Flagship programmes

The South African Democracy Education Trust

A non-profit organisation that was established in 2000 by President Thabo Mbeki to document and analyse the history of the liberation struggle in South Africa.

SADET aims to support the efforts of promoting the achievement of Africa’s Renaissance and the consolidation of democracy in our country.

SADET’s main project is the Road to Democracy in South Africa, a chronological study of four decades of political struggle from 1960 to 1994, covering themes such as political context, key organisations and individuals, strategy and tactics, regime response, international and regional context, and provincial and local involvement. The project has produced five volumes of research, as well as an overview volume, that are widely used by scholars, educators, students, and the general public.

SADET

Management

SADET’s management and research team is led by Dr Sifiso Ndlovu as the Executive Director.

SADET

Funding

SADET has been funded by various sources, including MTN, Nedbank Group, National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, Department of Arts and Culture, Department of Education, and private donations.

SADET

The Road to Democracy in South Africa Series

PUBLICATIONS

Volume 1: 1960-1970

The inaugural volume of the series meticulously examines the decade marked by the banning of the liberation movements. It places under its scholarly lens the political dynamics of the 1960s, the strategies employed by key organizations, and the apartheid regime’s responses.

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Volume 2: 1970-1980

The second volume expands the narrative into the 1970s, exploring the advent of insurgencies, and the containment of black resistance. It charts the growth of movements, changes in policies, and the diversification of strategies.

PUBLICATIONS

Volume 3: International Solidarity Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

This triad underscores the significant role the international community played in our struggle. From nations that harboured exiles to organizations that campaigned against apartheid, this volume lays bare the intricate global dynamics that fuelled the liberation struggle.

PUBLICATIONS

Volume 4: 1980-1990 Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

The fourth volume is a detailed account of the decade that led to negotiations. It analyses the evolution of strategy, tactics, and key organizational dynamics in the 1980s, covering a crucial period marked by both intensification of the struggle and foundational changes in global politics.

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Volume 5: African Solidarity Part 1, Part 2

Volume five takes a deep dive into the role of African nations in the anti-apartheid struggle. From logistic support to political advocacy, this volume pays homage to the spirit of Pan-African solidarity that played an instrumental role in our journey toward freedom.

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Volume 6: 1990-1996 Part 1, Part 2

The sixth instalment explores the intricate journey from negotiation to institution-building in the first years of democracy. It provides a chronology of events from the release of Nelson Mandela to the establishment of the first democratic government.

PUBLICATIONS

Volume 7: Soweto Uprisings: New Perspectives, Commemorations and Memorialisation

This volume is an academic tribute to the indomitable spirit of the students and activists involved in the Soweto uprisings. It offers fresh perspectives, revisiting the events through commemorative lenses and acts of memorialization.

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Volume 8: South African Diasporas in Southern and Eastern Africa

Volume eight explores the diasporic elements of the anti-apartheid struggle, focusing on the experiences of South Africans in Southern and Eastern Africa and their role in shaping the liberation struggle.

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Volume 9: Power and Authority of African Women in Southern Africa and the African Diaspora during precolonial times

This volume celebrates the often-overlooked roles that African women have played in history, analysing their power and authority in both Southern Africa and the broader African Diaspora.

PUBLICATIONS

Volume 10: Africans and the anti-colonial struggles in the African continent, the Caribbean and the Americas

The tenth volume widens the lens to look at African involvement in anti-colonial struggles across the continent and beyond, offering comparative perspectives that enrich our understanding of our own struggle for freedom.

SADET

Oral History Interviews

SADET has conducted hundreds of oral history interviews with participants and witnesses of the liberation struggle in South Africa. These interviews provide valuable insights into the personal experiences, perspectives, and memories of those who shaped our history. They also complement and enrich the written sources used in the Road to Democracy project.

Flagship programmes

The South African Democracy Education Trust