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In August 1984 the South African government detained the leaders of the United Democratic Front (UDF). The UDF organised a boycott of the segregated elections held under South Africa’s new constitution. After being temporarily freed, six of the detainees took refuge in the British consulate in Durban. Students in Britain picketed the South African embassy to demand safe passage for the detainees.

Leaflet publicising a meeting to set up a new local anti-apartheid group in Wandsworth, south London, in 1984. 

From the early 1980s South Africa destabilised Mozambique by supporting the Mozambique National Resistance (MNR). The MNR killed villagers and attacked economic targets like the Beira-Zimbabwe railway line. South African commandos also mounted raids into Mozambique, killing ANC activists and Mozambican civilians. This pamphlet gives a detailed account of South Africa’s undeclared war. Shortly after it was published Mozambique and South Africa signed the Nkomati Accord, but the apartheid government reneged on its pledge to stop arming the MNR. 

In the autumn of 1984 the AAM and Namibia Support Committee campaigned to raise Namibia’s public profile in Britain and change government policy. This Declaration was endorsed by over 400 organisations and 6,000 individuals. It was presented to the British Prime Minister by a delegation led by the Bishop of Stepney on 10 December, the 25th anniversary of the South African massacre of 11 Namibians in Katutura township, Windhoek.

Anti-apartheid supporters marched through central London to protest against the inauguration of P W Botha as President on 14 September 1984. The inauguration followed segregated elections, boycotted by South Africa’s Indian and Cape Coloured communities. Africans had no vote. United Democratic Front (UDF) leaders were detained before the elections. The elections coincided with a wave of protest that swept through South Africa’s black townships, starting in Sharpeville in the southern Transvaal.

In December 1983 the Greater London Council adopted a Declaration pledging that it would do all in its power to make London an apartheid-free zone. This leaflet advertised a conference co-organised with ELTSA (End Loans to Southern Africa) to discuss how to implement the declaration. The conference brought together representatives of local government, trade unions, churches, ethnic minority organisations and community organisations. The AAM was one of the sponsors.

In September 1984 a group of singers and dancers from Namibia presented a Festival of Culture and Resistance in eight cities in Britain and Ireland. The Festival publicised the ‘Namibia: Independence Now!’ campaign organised by the AAM and Namibia Support Committee. The tour was funded by the Commonwealth Foundation, Greater London Council and two Scottish local authorities.

An international petition calling for the release of Nelson Mandela was launched by the AAM in October 1982. Signatures for the petition were collected in countries throughout the world. Over half a million people signed and other organisations launched their own petitions. The AAM’s President Trevor Huddleston flew to New York to present the petition to UN Secretary General on 11 October 1984, International Day of Solidarity with South African Political Prisoners.