The Classical Association of South Africa (CASA) has been in existence since as early as 1908, and has existed in its current form since 1956. The aim of CASA is to promote the study and appreciation of classical antiquity. The majority of our membership consists of academic staff and students, but membership is open to anyone who subscribes to this goal. The Association produces a regular journal, Acta Classica, and organises a national conference at its biennial meeting (usually in June). The national branches of the Association organise more frequent regional meetings (usually in the spring or autumn of each year)
The Association subsidises the publication of Akroterion (Journal for the Classics in South Africa, Department of Ancient Studies at the University of Stellenbosch) and sponsors various prizes and awards.
The Association also promotes several outreach initiatives aimed at cultivating a wider public interest in the Classics, and at bringing classical culture and ancient languages to South Africans of all ages and backgrounds.
The CASA constitution is available here.
History
The Classical Association of South Africa was first established in 1908. The inaugural meeting was held in Cape Town with the presidential address given by Professor William Ritchie at the South African College (now the University of Cape Town). The organisation was envisioned as a national association two years before the Union of South Africa came into being in 1910. The 1908 Association, though short-lived, was the precursor to the later association founded at Cape Town in 1927 by the Hon. J. H. Hofmeyr, Professors C. S. Edgar, W. Rollo, A. Petrie, and T. J. Haarhoff, with Marie V. Williams as Honorary Secretary.
The 1927 Association enjoyed moderate success, but was beset with practical difficulties. After a period of decline and a brief revival in 1952, the Classical Association of South Africa was formally re-constituted in 1956. A national conference was held at Pretoria where the Association as it exists today was founded, with Professors A. Petrie and T. J. Haarhoff as its Honorary Presidents. In 1957 the biennial national conference was established, and in 1958 the first volume of Acta Classica was published.
For early reports on CASA (published in Acta Classica) and for information about the history of Classics in South Africa click here.