Local authorities

Leaflet advertising a meeting and film show to mark South Africa Freedom Day, 26 June 1987. The meeting was sponsored by Camden Council's Race and Community Relations Committee. It took place during the 'ten days of action against apartheid' called for by the AAM, 16–26 June.

This list of 162 local British local authorities that boycotted all South African products was compiled as part of the AAM’s campaign against the Local Government Bill introduced into the British Parliament in 1987. The effect of the Bill was to prohibit local authorities from banning the purchase of South African goods and from barring companies with links to South Africa and Namibia from local government contracts. It became law in 1988.

In 1987 the Conservative Government introduced a Bill prohibiting local authorities from banning the purchase of South African goods and barring companies with links to South Africa and Namibia from contracts. This statement set out arguments against the Bill put forward by Local Authorities Against Apartheid (LAAA)’s National Steering Committee. It said the Bill would damage race relations in Britain and prevent peaceful pressure being brought against the apartheid regime. The Bill became law in 1988.

This statement by the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) explained that in 1977 the authority had adopted a policy of not buying South African goods and only doing business with companies that complied with British anti-discriminatory legislation. ILEA stated that the 1988 Local Government Act had made it impossible for it to continue to implement this policy. Until its abolition by the Thatcher Government in 1990, ILEA ran the schools in the 12 inner London boroughs.

Leaflet publicising an Anti-Apartheid Festival in Southall Park, West London on 18 June 1988. The Festival featured South African jazz musician Jonas Gwangwa and poet Benjamin Zephaniah, as well as children’s events and food stalls. It was organised by Ealing AA Group, with support from the London Borough of Ealing.

In May 1988 Local Authorities Against Apartheid organised a conference for local councils on ‘Building Links with the Frontline States’. The conference discussed how to twin local authorities in Britain with their counterparts in the countries of Southern Africa. This pamphlet published the keynote addresses made by Zambian Deputy Foreign Minister Mavis Muyunda and FRELIMO leader Jorge Rebelo.

Nelson Mandela was awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Islwyn in South Wales to mark his 70th birthday in 1988. In the photograph Neil Kinnock MP presents a scroll to Mandela’s lawyer Ismail Ayob with Beyers Naude and Imam Esack looking on. The presentation was one of hundreds of honours conferred on Mandela by British local authorities and other institutions in the 1980s.

Nelson and Winnie Mandela were awarded the freedom of the City of Aberdeen in 1984. This leaflet advertised a march and rally celebrating the award, held in November 1989. It was sponsored by Aberdeen District Council and supported by local trade union branches.