Papers of Mervyn Bennun

Scope and Content

The collection consists of papers accumulated by Bennun during his period at the University of Exeter. Included are: newscuttings, correspondence, flyers and leaflets, typescripts of articles and other writings (including on the trial of the 'Sharpeville Six'). Some books, pamphlets, and periodicals are also included. The materials relate to ANC activities in the UK and of the Exeter and District Anti-Apartheid Group, to human rights and to the period of apartheid in general.

Administrative / Biographical History

Mervyn Bennun was originally trained at Cape Town University and subsequently practised as a lawyer in South Africa until his departure for Britain in the 1960s. He became lecturer in law at the University of Exeter from 1969-1970 until his retirement in the 1990s when he returned to South Africa. During his time at Exeter University, he was an African National Congress (ANC) activist in the period when the ANC was in exile in Britain, and was involved with the activities of the Exeter and District Anti-Apartheid Group as Chairman and Secretary.

Bennun's publications include Computers, artificial intelligence and the law (ed.), Directors' powers to issue shares: two contrasting decisions, Law, computer science, and artificial intelligence (ed. with Ajit Narayanan), Necessity: yet another analysis, Negotiating justice: a new constitution for South Africa (ed. with Malyn D.D. Newitt), and Witnesses for the prosecution in South Africa: some comments.

Access Information

Usual EUL arrangements apply.

Note

Listed by Charlotte Berry, Archivist, 23 April 2004 and encoded into EAD 28 May 2004.

Other Finding Aids

Archival materials are currently unlisted. Some print materials have been roughly listed: for further details, please contact the Archivist.

Conditions Governing Use

Usual EUL restrictions apply.

Custodial History

Donated to the University Library in 1996, together with book-related and other print materials (approx. 22 boxes).

Related Material

Book-related print materials belonging to Bennun are also available at the University Library. Records and memorabilia relating to the Exeter Anti-Apartheid Group (EUL MS 216) of which Bennun was Chairman and Secretary are also available at Special Collections.

Bibliography

Not known.