Bybelgenootskap van Suid-Afrika

The Bible Society movement began with Mary Jones, a young Welsh girl who wanted a Bible in her own language. Mary was born in Wales in 1784 at a time when Bibles were very scarce and expensive. She longed for a Bible of her own from a young age and saved for years to be able to buy one. In 1800, when she was 16 years old, she travelled on foot for about 40 km in order to obtain a Bible.

During a meeting of the Religious Tract Society in 1802 Thomas Charles, the minister from whom she eventually got a Bible, related Mary's story. Plans were made to make more Bibles available in Wales and one of the persons present, Joseph Hughes, cried out, "If for Wales, why not for the whole world?"

On 7 March 1804 there was a meeting of 300 people in the London Tavern and the British and Foreign Bible Society was born. The young Bible Society soon spread its wings and expanded to other countries.

On 23 August 1820 a group of people met in Tuynhuys in Cape Town under the chairmanship of Sir Rufane Donkin, the acting Governor of the Cape. The result? The founding of the South African Bible Society.

Today the Bible Society of South Africa (BSSA), with its head office in Bellville, works from seven regional offices (Bellville, Bloemfontein, Durban, Esikhawini, Kempton Park, Mthatha and Port Elizabeth) to supply the Bible needs of the country.

Like all other Bible Societies, the task of the BSSA is to make affordable Bibles available for all.

All language groups in South Africa, except Southern Ndebele have a complete Bible. The translation of the Old Testament into Southern Ndebele is currently under way and a complete Bible in this language will be available in approximately eight years' time.

The BSSA is also responsible for making the Bible available in suitable formats, for example in braille, on audio cassette and in large print. The Bible in electronic format (CD, MP3 & CD-ROM) is also needed for the modern generation. Bible Portions for specific groups, for example those affected by HIV/Aids, are also made available.