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The October issue called for support for the Zimbabwe Patriotic Front in the Lancaster House constitutional talks. It reported that at least 7000 people were still held under martial law regulations in Zimbabwe. It exposed the sale of radar equipment by the British electronics firm Plessey in contravention of the UN arms embargo. A centrespread highlighted plans to protest against the South African Barbarians rugby tour of Britain. Basil Davidson remembered MPLA leader Agostinho Neto, who died on 10 September. SWAPO representative Shapua Kaugungua again accused Western governments of undermining negotiations for Namibian independence.

The November issue led on South African attacks against Zambia and Mozambique. It recorded the standing ovation for ANC President Oliver Tambo at the Labour Party Conference in September. It again alleged that Western governments were backtracking on the UN peace plan for Namibia. It exposed South African ‘reforms’ on trade unions, the pass laws, housing and education as ‘a new mask’ for apartheid. ZAPU women’s leader Jane Ngwenya told of the intimidation of women in Zimbabwe. South African lawyer Shun Chetty described South Africa’s rigged legal system.

As the Lancaster House talks on Zimbabwe drew to a conclusion, AA News warned that the British Government must not impose a settlement before a cease-fire agreement. It announced the launch of a campaign to save the life of ANC guerrilla James Mange, sentenced to death in Pietermaritzburg. Abdul Minty wrote about South Africa’s nuclear capacity. AA News reported on SWAPO’s rejection of the new Western plan for Namibia. It reviewed the conclusions of the AAM-UN Committee Against Apartheid international seminar on the role of transnational corporations in South Africa. It exposed Israel’s growing links with the apartheid government.

AA News warned that the unbanning of the ANC and PAC, and imminent release of Nelson Mandela, did not guarantee the end of apartheid. The AAM launched its South Africa: Freedom Now! campaign, calling for the maintenance of international pressure for the establishment of a united, non-racial democracy. COSATU General Secretary Jay Naidoo told of increasing repression of South African trade unionists. AA News reported on the constitution drafted by Namibia’s newly elected Constituent Assembly and on prospects for peace in Mozambique. A special report highlighted apartheid’s environmental impact.

AA News pictured Nelson Mandela walking out of Victor Verster Prison, and reprinted his speech from Cape Town town hall. It reported on the worldwide celebrations of his release. It called for support for the AAM demo planned for 25 March under the slogan ‘Tell Mrs Thatcher to Stop Supporting Apartheid’. In an article heralding Namibia’s independence celebrations planned for 21 March, AA News highlighted Namibia’s abolition of the death penalty. In the first of a series on the ‘Pillars of Apartheid’ AA News featured the Banstustan policy. It reported on the Malibongwe conference on women under apartheid held in Amsterdam.

This issue led on Namibia’s independence, declared on 20 March. It asked the British Government to press South Africa to end its occupation of Walvis Bay. It highlighted continuing repression in South Africa and the ANC’s attempts to resolve violent clashes in Natal. It reported on the Southern Africa Coalition’s lobby of parliament calling for the maintenance of international sanctions. A picture spread featured celebrations all over Britain of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison.

The May issue featured Nelson Mandela’s speech at the Wembley concert held on 16 April. It highlighted the AAM’s ‘South Africa Freedom Now’ campaign, culminating in a Trafalgar Square rally addressed by Rivonia trialist Andrew Mlangeni on 25 March. It reported that formal talks between the South African government and the ANC were forecast to start in May. The issue also featured a visit to Britain by the South African Unemployed Workers Coordinating Committee and SACTU’s merger with COSATU.

The June issue led on the spread of attacks by white vigilante groups in South Africa. It protested against the EU’s welcome for South African President de Klerk on his ‘victory tour’ of Europe and announced an AAM Day of Action on 16 June on the theme ‘Boycott Apartheid – Sanctions Now!' It reported on the talks between the South African Government and the ANC, stressing that their aim was a united, non-racial democracy. Chitra Karve reported back from the AAM’s Black Solidarity Conference in Brixton, London on 3 March. Jean Middleton analysed a South African commission’s report on Inkatha violence in Natal.