this racial segregation was extended to all aspects of life and all south african institutions, including the institutions of higher education. the extension of university education act removed from universities the freedom to decide whom they would admit as students. african, coloured, and indian students would have to receive special ministerial permission before they could attend a ‘white university’. in 1953, dr malan, as chancellor of the university of stellenbosch, announced the government’s plans to introduce academic apartheid at the universities of cape town and the witwatersrand. these unjust apartheid laws were challenged by students and academic staff, and the struggle for academic freedom began. their view was that academic freedom implies that teachers should be free to teach the truth as they see it and that they should not have to bow to sectional, political, religious, or ideological dogmas or beliefs. when commemorating those who sacrificed their lives and fought for academic freedom, the special collections department will mount on display cabinets of published and unpublished documents that have information on academic freedom.