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One of many posters published by the Anti-Apartheid Movement to publicise the campaign for the release of political prisoners in South Africa and Namibia.

Because of a shortage of skilled white labour, South African companies were keen to recruit students from British universities. The National Union of Students produced this poster to urge students not to emigrate to South Africa.

Starting in 1975, South African forces repeatedly invaded Angola, destroying crops and infrastructure. One of their main aims was to depopulate southern Angola and stop guerrilla fighters from the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) crossing into northern Namibia. This pamphlet called on Western countries to pressure South Africa to reach agreement on the independence of Namibia.

The Anti-Apartheid Health Committee was set up in 1978 by anti-apartheid supporters working in the health professions. This leaflet, produced in 1983, set out its main objectives: to inform people about the impact of apartheid on the health of black South Africans; to end British health organisations’ links with South Africa; and to collect medical aid for the Southern African liberation movements.

Mug telling the story of a black South African worker sentenced to 18 months in gaol for writing ‘Release Nelson Mandela’ on his tea mug.

The AAM followed up its ‘Southern Africa: The Time to Choose’ conference held in 1982 with a campaign on the theme ‘Southern Africa: The Time to Act’ the following year. This leaflet advertised a London Anti-Apartheid Committee workshop for local activists in March 1983. It focused on sanctions against South Africa, action against its illegal occupation of Namibia, support for political prisoners and how to build a British movement to help defend the frontline states against South African aggression.

Poster produced for the AAM’s 1983 ‘Southern Africa: The Time to Act’ campaign. The campaign warned that South Africa was a threat to peace in Southern Africa and the world. It asked the British government to end its collaboration with the apartheid regime and impose sanctions on South Africa. It called for support for UN moves to bring about the independence of Namibia and for support for the Southern African front-line states in the face of South African aggression. 

The AAM drew up this Manifesto for Action as the centrepiece of its ‘Southern Africa: The Time to Act’ campaign in 1983. It was launched at a press conference in London on 24 March. Its aim was to promote discussion on Southern Africa in the run-up to the June 1983 British general election. The manifesto was sent to Prime Minister Thatcher and all the political party leaders. Tens of thousands were distributed throughout Britain.