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In May 1978 the South African Defence Force massacred over 600 people at a SWAPO refugee camp at Kassinga in Angola. They included 120 children. This leaflet accused Shell of being complicit in the killings because they supplied fuel for the SADF in its operations in Namibia and Angola. The leaflet was distributed on the 11th anniversary of the massacre in 1989.

Trade unionists from Teesside and Hartlepool protested against the unloading of South African coal at Teesport in north-east England on 11 May 1989. British miners and other trade unionists were at the forefront of the campaign against imports of South African coal. By the late 1980s the international campaign meant that it was often sold at a discounted price.

In December 1988 South Africa signed the UN Plan for the Independence of Namibia, which led to the holding of free elections in November 1989. With the Namibia Support Committee, the AAM set up the Namibia Emergency Campaign (NEC) to mobilise British support for Namibian independence and solidarity with the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO). On 13 May 1989 the NEC held a conference where 200 delegates were briefed by SWAPO Labour Secretary Jason Angula.

Early in 1989 more than 300 South African detainees went on hunger strike in protest against their detention without trial. Altogether over 1,000 people were held without charge, some of them for over two years. AAM and ANC supporters held a solidarity vigil outside South Africa House and Southern Africa the Imprisoned Society asked British Foreign Office Minister Lynda Chalker to tell the South African ambassador that his government must release the detainees.

Early in 1989 more than 300 South African detainees went on hunger strike in protest against their detention without trial. Altogether over 1,000 people were held without charge, some of them for over two years. The ANC held a solidarity vigil outside South Africa House and Southern Africa the Imprisoned Society asked British Foreign Office Minister Lynda Chalker to tell the South African ambassador that his government must release the detainees. 

This Africa Liberation Day celebration was the first public event held by the AAM’s Black and Ethnic Minorities Committee. The highlight of the evening was a speech by Mozambican writer and FRELIMO activist Lina Magaia. A collection was made for the SWAPO Election Appeal Fund.

The Upington 14 were sentenced to death on 26 May 1989 because they were present at a demonstration during which a black policeman was killed. They included a 60-year old woman, Evenlyn de Bruin. After an international campaign for their release, the sentence was overturned in May 1991. This leaflet set out the background to the case.

Poster for the campaign to save the lives of the Upington 14. The 13 men and one woman were sentenced to death on 26 May 1989 because they were present during a demonstration during which a black policeman was killed. They included 60-year old Evelyn de Bruin. After an international campaign for their release, the sentence was overturned in May 1991.