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The AAM followed up its 1982 ‘Southern Africa: The Time to Choose’ conference with a campaign on the theme ‘Southern Africa: The Time to Act’ the following year. This leaflet advertised a conference on how to organise local anti-apartheid campaigns. The conference provided a political analysis of the situation in Southern Africa and workshops for activists from local anti-apartheid and student groups. Speakers included representatives of the ANC and SWAPO, Abdul Minty from the AAM and Paul Blomfield, Chair of the AAM’s Student Committee and Secretary of Sheffield AA Group.

Students from University College London built a hut from scrap materials on the steps of St Martin’s in the Fields to show passers-by how black South Africans lived in shanty towns like Crossroads, October 1983.

Leaflet asking AAM supporters to protest outside the South African Embassy on the opening day of the trial of Albertina Sisulu in 1983.

Barclays Bank was the biggest bank in South Africa and Namibia. This leaflet set out the many ways in which it supported the apartheid government. Anti-apartheid supporters campaigned for Barclays to withdraw from South Africa and Namibia from 1970 until the bank pulled out in 1986.

Demonstrators marched to London’s Jubilee Gardens to protest against British companies’ support for South Africa’s illegal occupation of Namibia, as part of a Week of Action on Namibia, 27 October–3 November 1983. The march served ‘summonses’ at the offices of companies that collaborated with South Africa’s illegal rule in Namibia. The Week of Action featured a speaking tour by SWAPO representative Jacob Hannai and a special leaflet on Barclays and Namibia. It was organised by the AAM and the Namibia Support Committee.

Demonstrators marched to London’s Jubilee Gardens to protest against British companies’ support for South Africa’s illegal occupation of Namibia, during a second annual Week of Action on Namibia, 27 October–3 November 1983. The march served ‘summonses’ at the offices of companies that collaborated with South Africa’s illegal rule in Namibia. During the week, demonstrations were held outside the headquarters of Barclays Bank and the Central Electricity Board.

Poster advertising a concert organised by University of London students to raise funds for the AAM. 

In November 1983 the South African Supreme Court turned down an appeal by Umkhonto we Sizwe activist Benjamin Moloise against the death sentence. This letter from Des Starrs, Chair of Southern Africa the Imprisoned Society (SATIS), asked Foreign Secretary Geoffrey Howe to intervene with the South African Foreign Minister, who was visiting London. Benjamin Moloise was hanged on 18 October 1985.