Preserving KZN’s historical buildings

Although quite different from the work we do, I was interested to come across a project that is creating 3D digital scans of historic buildings and monument. Details as follows: Using state-of-the-art digital mapping and the latest 3D laser scanning technology, this R8.8million National Lottery-funded project aims to preserve KwaZulu-Natal’s rich cultural and historical heritage, …

Potential for digital heritage

I recently published a blog post on the Archival Platform on the democratising potential of new digital technologies. This was in part a response to the recent workshop on the draft National Policy on the Digitisation of Heritage Resources. The draft policy focuses on institutional issues relating to the digitisation of heritage resources. While these …

South Coast Writers Trail

We recently went on a research trip down the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, for a writers trail we are helping KZN Literary Tourism produce.  Writers associated with the region include Ellen Kuzwayo, Es’kia Mpahlele, Roy Campbell, Laurens van der Post and Michael Green.  We ended up at this beautiful church, set amongst the sugar cane fields, …

South African Indian English

Professor Rajend Mesthrie of UCT’s Department of English Languages and Literature recently launched a1700-word Dictionary of South African Indian English, published by UCT Press this year, which marks the 150th anniversary of the first ship bringing Indian labourers to then-Natal. Mesthrie wrote the book as he feels that our current dictionaries of English in South …