France, Oct. 11 -- Black, Indian and mixed-race South Africans built their own sporting world during apartheid, defying segregation with parallel clubs and competitions. Archivists in Johannesburg are now working to save that history.

The archives in the basement of Wits University are a real maze - but Ajit Gandabhai knows exactly where he is going.

"There are a multitude of categories," he said. "But we're heading for the sports section."

It contains valuable resources for historians and sports enthusiasts: a collection of objects and documents that show how, long before the end of apartheid, black, Indian and mixed-race communities were already playing cricket, rugby and tennis.

"These are financial reports from clubs dating back t...