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From the ashes, library vows to rebuild unrivaled Africa collection

From the ashes, library vows to rebuild unrivaled Africa collection

KIM HARRISBERG CAPE TOWN is reeling after one of its worst fires in recent history tore through the University of Cape Town campus, forcing 4,000 students to evacuate as it consumed precious items from the library's rare African Studies collection. Tens of thousands of books, manuscripts, films and government publications from across Africa were on Sunday turned to ash in the Jagger Library; many more emerged water damaged. The library housed one of the world's biggest collections of African history books and unique African films, including early editions of the first Black-owned newspaper in South Africa. Ujala Satgoor, executive director…
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UCT salvaging books from burned library

UCT salvaging books from burned library

WENDELL ROELF STARING helplessly as flames from a weekend wildfire on the slopes of Table Mountain spread and razed the University of Cape Town's library, chief librarian Ujala Satgoor was back amid the smouldering ruins on Tuesday to try and salvage what was left. One of Cape Town's worst fires in recent memory was brought under control on Monday after burning for more than 24 hours since starting on Sunday, damaging historical sites and forcing people to evacuate their homes. Starting on the slopes of Devil's Peak, another part of Cape Town's mountainous backdrop, it forced University of Cape Town…
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