Mossel Bay’s history preserved for future generations

The history of Mossel Bay has been preserved for generations to come after the Western Cape Government’s Oral History Initiative was launched in the Garden Route town on Monday.
 
The project saw officials from the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, specifically the Western Cape Library Service, visit the town to capture video recordings of residents retelling the area’s history in their own words.
 
The stories have been placed on DVD disks and handed over to public libraries in the area and the storytellers themselves.
 
On Monday, Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Anroux Marais, launched the programme in the Mossel Bay town hall, with residents of nearby Herbertsdale and Hartenbosch also in attendance. 
 
Minister Marais emphasised the importance of having the community’s stories told and recorded in order to preserve their histories in our museums and archives. 
 
She also stressed the importance of having these stories and histories in the public libraries to make them accessible to the community.
 
The Oral History Initiative will help to keep alive the stories and experiences of the past so that future generations can celebrate our heritage. BETTER TOGETHER.