Stop the hangings

This petition was launched in April 1989 to pressure the British government to intervene to stop all death sentences in political trials in South Africa. The AAM also sent a delegation to Foreign Office Minister Lynda Chalker. The number of death sentences imposed on political prisoners increased sharply from the mid-1980s. The petition was signed by 34,000 people and presented to the British parliament on 10 November 1989. 

Over 300 people attended this meeting to hear Tina Forbes, whose son Ashley was serving a 15-year sentence on Robben Island, and Silus Mkanunu from the South African Association of Democratic Lawyers. The meeting launched SATIS’s ‘No Apartheid Executions’ petition.

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.

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, Evelyn de Bruin. After an international campaign for their release, the sentence was overturned in May 1991.

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, Evelyn de Bruin. Anti-apartheid supporters picketed the South African Embassy in London calling for clemency for the Upington 14. After an international campaign for their release, the sentence was overturned in May 1991.

Tjeluvuyo Mgedezi was one of three mineworkers sentenced to death in May 1987. The British National Union of Mineworkers circulated a petition calling for his release to its members. It distributed 20,000 copies of this leaflet and publicised the case in its journal. In May 1989 the sentence was commuted to a long term of imprisonment. 

Letter from Prime Minister Thatcher’s office responding to the AAM’s request for the British government to intervene on behalf of the Upington 14. The 14 were sentenced to death because they were present at a demonstration during which a black policeman was killed. After international protests they were reprieved in May 1991, after two years on death row. The letter set out the government’s criteria for intervening in cases where political prisoners were condemned to death.