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Poster calling for the election of Nelson Mandela as South Africa’s President, produced for the ANC campaign in South Africa’s first one person one vote election in April 1994.

Baroness Barbara Castle and Labour MPs Joan Lestor and Glenda Jackson were among anti-apartheid campaigners who released balloons in Trafalgar Square on 27 April 1994, the day of South Africa’s first ever democratic election. On 10 May, when Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as President of South Africa, ANC and AAM members entered South Africa House for the first time, when they attended a reception to celebrate the inauguration.

Leaflet advertising a concert to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s inauguration as President of South Africa.

After South Africa’s first democratic election in April 1994 there was debate among AAM supporters about future solidarity action in Britain. This leaflet publicised a workshop to discuss future action on 21 May and the AAM’s extraordinary general meeting on 25 June.

AAM members discussed how they could help Southern Africa overcome the legacy of apartheid at a workshop held in May 1994. Leading the discussion were economist Ben Fine, Lewisham Councillor Mee Ling Ng and educationist Gulam Mayet, who put forward practical suggestions for solidarity action. The ideas were carried forward at an extraordinary general meeting of the AAM, held on 25 June, which set up a new organisation, Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA). 

In June 1994 the AAM held an Extraordinary General Meeting which decided to set up a new movement of solidarity with the peoples of Southern Africa. This appeal for support was signed by leading British trade unionists.

At an extraordinary general meeting of the AAM on 25 June 1994 delegates decided to transform it into a new movement of solidarity with the people of Southern Africa. A draft founding statement pledged that the new organisation would promote new bonds of friendship between people in Britain and South Africa. It also resolved to monitor the policies of international organisations and multinational companies. A further meeting on 29 October dissolved the AAM and set up Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA).

This celebration of the achievement of democracy in South Africa was held on South Africa Freedom Day, 26 June 1994. The day was also the 35th anniversary of the founding of the Anti-Apartheid Movement. The event featured South African music and world dance, the AAM’s annual Freedom Run, a balloon race and bouncy castle, and an exhibition on the ANC’s Reconstruction and Development Programme.