  The gamma-ray binary system PSR B1259-63/LS 2883 went through periastron in
May 2014. We report on the optical spectroscopic monitoring of the system from
33 d before to 78 d after periastron, undertaken with the Southern African
Large Telescope (SALT). The H{\alpha} and He I ({\lambda}6678) lines exhibit an
orbital variation around periastron, with the line strengths reaching a maximum
~13 d after periastron. The line strength is weaker than observed around the
previous periastron in 2010. There is also a marked change in the line-strength
and asymmetry around the first disc crossing. These observations are consistent
with the disruption of the circumstellar disc around periastron due to the
interaction with the pulsar.
