1980s

Elections for segregated local councils in South Africa’s townships were a propaganda fraud, alleged this issue of AA News. In its editorial, the newspaper again focused on the implementation of UN resolution 435 on Namibia and on the need for pressure on the apartheid government to stop the hanging of political prisoners. It announced the formation of a liaison group to coordinate action by Western European anti-apartheid groups to press for European Economic Community sanctions against South Africa. The newspaper exposed the detention and torture of children in South Africa and Namibia and the increase in the number of women detainees.

AA News headlined SWAPO’s call for mass resistance inside Namibia to force South Africa to honour its commitments in independence talks. Abdul Minty accused Israel, Chile and Taiwan of breaking the UN arms embargo. AA News showed how South African companies were planning to increase coal exports to Britain. The ANC’s representative in Britain, Mendi Msimang, warned against attempts to separate Nelson Mandela from the liberation struggle. AA News highlighted the role of South African church leaders in resistance to apartheid and analysed the devastating effect that disinvestment by British and US companies was having on the South African economy.

AA News launched the AAM’s ‘Boycott Apartheid 89’ campaign, calling for a new drive for sanctions against South Africa and a people’s boycott of all apartheid goods. The campaign would target Shell, gold and coal imports and tourism. The newspaper again warned about South Africa’s attempts to undermine Namibian independence and called for support for the AAM’s ‘Free Namibia Now’ lobby of the British parliament on 7 December. It highlighted the emergence of a radical Muslim grouping aligned with the mass democratic movement in South Africa. The newspaper publicised the March Month of Action on Women organised by the AAM Women’s Committee.

The March issue led on the role of Albertina Sisulu, banned co-president of the United Democratic Front, in the anti-apartheid struggle. It reported on the hunger strike by South African detainees and the calls by organisations in Britain for their release. It exposed how the British Government was still promoting trade with South Africa, in defiance of Commonwealth moves to step up sanctions. In an interview, Barbara Switzer, Assistant General Secretary of the MSF trade union, talked about the union’s support for the AAM. The centrespread displayed pictures of women in struggle in South Africa and Namibia and of solidarity action by British women.

The April issue focused on the international effort to ensure that elections scheduled for November 1989 in Namibia were free and fair. It publicised the launch of a SWAPO Election Appeal sponsored by the leaders of all the main British political parties, apart from the Conservatives. It again highlighted the hunger strike by South African political detainees and the failure of the Thatcher Government to bring pressure on the apartheid regime. A feature by the ANC’s Nkosazana Zuma asked for support for the newly established Health and Refugee Trust of South Africa (HEART). SANROC Chair Sam Ramsamy wrote about the campaign for a sporting boycott of South Africa.

SWAPO blamed British Prime Minister Thatcher, on a visit to Windhoek, for an intervention with the UN Special Representative leading to a breakdown of the ceasefire in Namibia. AA News warned against lifting the European Economy Community’s nuclear sanctions against South Africa. It reported on a Europe-wide conference in Rome to campaign for an EEC boycott of South African coal and on the AAM’s plans to contact every retail outlet in Britain to identify those which boycotted apartheid products. It featured new publications from the British Defence and Aid Fund’s Education Group promoting teaching about Southern Africa.

The June issue accused the British media of ignoring South Africa’s defiance of the UN plan for Namibian independence. It reported that 70 political prisoners were now on death row in South Africa. Shell’s annual general meeting was disrupted by anti-apartheid protesters and local AA groups picketed Shell garages all over Britain in May. AA News reported that 85 per cent of Tesco stores had been picketed by anti-apartheid supporters at the end of April. It welcomed the acquittal of the ‘Alex Five’, community activists in Alexandra Township, accused of treason for organising a rent boycott. 

The July-August issue again warned of the South African threat to free and fair elections in Namibia and publicised SWAPO’s election appeal fund. It reported on UDF co-president Albertina Sisulu’s visit to London and her condemnation of Prime Minister Thatcher’s meeting with South African President F W de Klerk in June. A feature article by Mary Turok told the history of South Africa Women’s Day, 9 August. AA News sent 60th birthday greetings to Rivonia trialist Ahmed Kathrada, serving a life sentence on Robben Island. It condemned the harassment of South African trade unionists and advertised the AAM’s new campaign video Fruits of Fear.