The Historical Association of South Africa is the oldest professional organisation in the country for historians specialising in aspects of southern African history. The Association has as its main objective the furtherance of history as a discipline in particular the study and understanding of the history of South Africby means of the following:

Ø the encouragement of history as a subject in South African universities, colleges of education and schools;
Ø the improvement of the quality of the teaching of History as a subject generally;
Ø the development and awareness of the importance of History;
Ø by publishing historical journals/magazines;
Ø by publishing any other publications of a historical nature and by supporting the publishing of historical material;
Ø by collecting historical documents and archival material and depositing them to the relevant South African archives;
Ø by promoting historical documents and archival material and depositing them to the relevant South African archives;
Ø by promoting historical museums through collecting relevant pieces for the museums;
Ø by co-operating with statutory bodies and other institutions involved with the preservation or restoration of historical artefacts (and articles); and
Ø by working together with other organisations to promote common ideals.