About South African History Online (SAHO)

About South African History Online

Established: 1998 (Registered as a Section 21 organisation in 2000)

South African History Online (SAHO) is the largest and most comprehensive online resource on South African and African history and culture. With over six million visitors annually, SAHO serves as a trusted resource for schools, universities, media, and the general public.

In 2018, SAHO's founder, Omar Badsha, received the National Order of Ikhamanga (Silver) for preserving our country’s heritage through groundbreaking research and accessible storytelling.

SAHO's Mission

SAHO seeks to break the silence on our past and challenge biased representations of African and South African heritage in educational and cultural institutions.

Our Values

• Promoting a critical and inclusive understanding of our past
• Encouraging freedom of expression and open access to information
• Collaborating to produce new research and support history education

Projects

Research and Content

• Timeline: Chronological overview of historical, cultural, and political events in South Africa and the continent
• Biographies: Over 7,000 life stories featured in the “Who’s Who: Lives of Courage” archive
• Politics & Governance: Covers political movements, liberation history, and South Africa’s democratic transition
• Culture & Society: Explores art, sport, religion, heritage, and language
• African History: Building a growing knowledge base across African nations and themes
• Archive: A searchable digital repository of over 50,000 documents, videos, and images

Education-Focused Initiatives

• Online Classroom: Free resources and downloadable lessons for Grades 4 to 12
• Curriculum Publications: Books and CDs created for schools with limited digital access
• Oral History Project: A nationwide programme capturing community voices and youth research
• Places Project: Researching cities, towns, and villages with community collaboration

Education, Internships & International Collaboration

SAHO works closely with universities and institutions to support knowledge production, historical research, and digital education. Since 2012, over 160 students—ranging from undergraduates to PhD candidates—have contributed as interns in research, multimedia, and publishing.

Our international partners include:

• Three U.S. universities (via exchange programmes)
• Glasgow University, Scotland
• Numerous South African institutions of higher learning

Conferences & Publications

SAHO has organised four major academic conferences over the past 21 years in partnership with universities, resulting in published books and academic articles.

Since 2000, we have produced 31 books and 4 musical CDs celebrating South African history, photography, and culture.

Community Engagement & Exhibitions

We work with communities to preserve local heritage and support storytelling projects. SAHO has helped create community websites and developed digital platforms for historical narratives and tourism promotion.

Our exhibitions have been showcased both nationally and in countries such as Ethiopia, Norway, the United States, Pakistan, Argentina, and Mexico.

Mafika Gwala Annual Lecture

This lecture series honours poet, activist, and intellectual Mafika Gwala. In partnership with UKZN and the NIHSS, the programme includes essay competitions and outreach initiatives in Hammarsdale Township.

SAHO Timeline and Milestones

Discover our story through the SAHO Timeline and Milestones.

Our Partners

• University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)
• University of South Africa (UNISA)
• Wits History Department & History Workshop
• Institute for Justice and Reconciliation
• Department of Basic Education (DBE)
• Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSAC)
• Glasgow University

Past and Present Sponsors

• DSAC
• National Institute of Humanities and Social Science (NIHSS)
• Western Cape Provincial Government
• CATHSSETA
• Fibre Processing and Manufacturing (FP&M) SETA
• Inqaba Biotechnical Industries
• Woolworths MySchool Project
• Individual donors and crowdfunding campaigns

Contribute to SAHO

SAHO is proudly built as an open, collaborative platform rooted in open-source technologies. We welcome contributions from developers, researchers, designers, and anyone passionate about history, education, and digital humanities.

Help improve our codebase, suggest content, or assist with accessibility, performance, and design. To learn how you can get involved, please read our Contribution Guide on GitHub.

SAHO Board Members

• Ashraf Dockrat
• Xolelwa Kashe-Katiya
• Omar Badsha, Founder and CEO