In 2001 President Mbeki visited Mali and was taken to Timbuktu as part of the official visit. President Mbeki made a commitment that South Africa will do their part in helping to preserve the written documentary heritage he saw there. He was driven by the fear that Africa may lose this valuable resource that not only dispel the stereotype belief that civilisation was brought to Africa from the west; but will also give the continent something to lay the foundation of the African Renaissance on. Immediately after that South Africa took on the challenge and developed the SA/Mali – Timbuktu Manuscripts Project. The project was developed with the understanding that there were other initiatives by other countries going on, some with very detailed plans and noble ideas. All South Africa wanted to do was to make a difference and ensure that the Malians were equipped well enough to manage their heritage in order for them to preserve and protect it from the plunder and distortion that has been going on over the past century.