Photos

Southern Africa the Imprisoned Society (SATIS) marked the UN Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners on 11 October 1981 with a vigil on the steps of St Martin’s in the Fields. The vigil protested at the repression of the South African trade union movement and called for the release of veteran trade unionist Oscar Mpetha.

In January 1982 Steven Kitson was detained by the South African security police when he travelled to South Africa to visit his father David Kitson in prison in Pretoria. David Kitson was serving a 20-year sentence for sabotage. Steven’s mother Norma Kitson and sister Amandla protested outside the South African Embassy in London demanding his release. Steven was threatened by the security police and eventually freed.

Students from King’s College, London blocked the entrance to the government-owned South African Airways at Oxford Circus on 10 February 1982 in protest against the death in detention of South African trade unionist Neil Aggett.

The AAM’s ‘Southern Africa: the Time to Choose’ conference, 11–13 March 1982, was its most ambitious initiative to date. The Vice President of Nigeria, Dr Alex Ekwueme, gave the keynote address and the leaders of the Labour and Liberal Parties and the Chair of the TUC International Committee were among the speakers from Britain. The liberation movements were represented by ANC General Secretary Alfred Nzo and SWAPO Chairman David Meroro. The conference was attended by church representatives, trade unionists, local authorities and women’s, youth and student organisations. Left to right: Dr Alex Ekwueme, Abdul Minty, Bob Hughes MP and Archbishop Trevor Huddleston.

Labour Party leader Michael Foot speaking at the  AAM’s ‘Southern Africa: the Time to Choose’ conference in March 1982. The conference was attended by church representatives, trade unionists, local authorities and women’s, youth and student organisations. 

The AAM’s ‘Southern Africa: the Time to Choose’ conference culminated in a 15,000-strong march and rally on 14 March. The rally was the biggest anti-apartheid demonstration since Sharpeville in 1960. Speakers included ANC Secretary General Alfred Nzo, representatives of the Labour and Liberal Parties and the TUC, asylum seekers campaigner Anwar Ditta and the only black member of the British Sports Council, Paul Stephenson. On the morning of the demonstration a bomb blast destroyed part of the ANC’s London office.

The AAM’s ‘Southern Africa: the Time to Choose’ conference culminated in a 15,000-strong march and rally on 14 March 1982. The rally was the biggest anti-apartheid demonstration since Sharpeville in 1960. Speakers included ANC Secretary General Alfred Nzo, representatives of the Labour and Liberal Parties and the TUC, asylum seekers campaigner Anwar Ditta and the only black member of the British Sports Council, Paul Stephenson. On the morning of the demonstration a bomb blast destroyed part of the ANC’s London office.

Anti-apartheid supporters from Waltham Forest, north-east London, at the demonstration in Trafalgar Square on 14 March 1982. The rally was the biggest anti-apartheid demonstration since Sharpeville in 1960. Speakers included ANC Secretary General Alfred Nzo, representatives of the Labour and Liberal Parties and the TUC, asylum seekers campaigner Anwar Ditta and the only black member of the British Sports Council, Paul Stephenson. On the morning of the demonstration a bomb destroyed the ANC’s London office.