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Nelson Mandela’s appeal to the European Parliament not to lift European Community sanctions was this issue’s front page story. AA News highlighted Mandela’s call for a democratically elected assembly to draw up a new constitution for South Africa. The AAM announced a September month of action against tourism in South Africa. A centre spread featured the 1990 Glasgow Sechaba Festival of Cultural Resistance to Apartheid, to be held in September, and the Zabalaza festival planned in London’s ICA. AA News warned about far-right white groups in South Africa and of SADF complicity in Inkatha violence in Natal.

The September issue led on the Pretoria Minute, under which political prisoners would be released and the ANC would suspend armed struggle. ANC representative Mendi Msimang told AA News that sanctions must be maintained and that the KwaZulu police should be disbanded to stop violence in Natal. A special correspondent celebrated the relaunch of the South African Communist Party in Johannesburg. A centre spread profiled South Africa’s trade union movement. Vivien McMenamin analysed the key issues facing the post-apartheid economy.

‘Peace process in distress’ headlined this issue, quoting Mandela’s accusation that apartheid security forces were fomenting ‘black on black’ violence. It reported on TUC support for the AAM’s ‘Call to Freedom’ campaign and on the relaunch of the ANC Women’s League in South Africa. Namibian trade union leader Ben Ulenga described the role of the National Union of Namibian Workers. The first in a new series of articles on the future South Africa argued that the goal of the Mass Democratic Movement was a grassroots democracy, led by workers and street level organisations.

AA News led on an AAM activists conference that launched an emergency campaign in response to the crisis facing the peace process in South Africa. It told de Klerk on his visit to Britain to stop ‘Talking Peace – Making War’. It reported on the EU’s relaxation of sanctions. Elaine Unterhalter described the apartheid education system and the plans for change put forward by South Africa’s National Education Coordinating Committee. Tanzanian High Commissioner John Malecela called for continuing support for the frontline states.

The December issue reported on de Klerk’s concessions in negotiations for the release of political prisoners, but warned against the relaxation of sanctions. Tony O’Dowd analysed key issues in the forthcoming negotiations for a new South African constitution. AA News reported on moves by east European countries to establish ties with South Africa. Its ‘Pillars of Apartheid’ feature focused on land and housing. It called for continued solidarity with the frontline states.

This issue led on the ANC consultative conference held in December 1990, which called on de Klerk to remove the obstacles to negotiations. It condemned the European Community’s decision to lift the ban on new investment in South Africa. It reported on the AAM’s AGM and it emergency campaign ‘Tell de Klerk – Stop the violence and repression’. Namibia’s first high commissioner to Britain told AA News about the issues facing the newly independent country. 

The March issue reported on crisis talks on 12 February between the ANC and the South African Government, which broke the negotiating deadlock. It welcomed the decision by the Commonwealth to maintain sanctions. In the first of a new ‘Peace Process Monitor’ series, AA News set out the key issues for negotiation. It reported on the South African democratic movement’s discussions about new structures for local government and sport. Frene Ginwala told AA News that the ANC must involve more women in the negotiating process.

AA News led on the South African Government’s land reform proposals, which failed to restore land to dispossessed South Africans. It reported on the AAM regional conferences held to discuss current issues and future prospects. Mick Flynn described moves to set up a new South African Interim National Olympic Committee. AA News reprinted an ANC statement on the cultural boycott, calling for links with non-racial South African cultural groups to stay open. It unveiled proposals for twinning areas of Britain and 14 ANC regions in South Africa. Mary Beale outlined the challenges facing the education sector in a future democratic South Africa.