Local authorities

This Declaration was adopted by the London Borough of Hackney in June 1990. It called on the South African government to lift political restrictions so that negotiations for a new constitution could take place following the release of Nelson Mandela. It was based on a model declaration circulated by Local Authorities Against Apartheid. Altogether 42 councils adopted the declaration.

This Declaration was adopted by the City of Stoke-on-Trent in June 1990. It called on the South African government to lift political restrictions so that negotiations for a new constitution could take place following the release of Nelson Mandela. It was based on a model declaration circulated by Local Authorities Against Apartheid. Altogether 42 councils adopted the declaration.

This Declaration was adopted by the North East Derbyshire District Council in June 1990. It called on the South African government to lift political restrictions so that negotiations for a new constitution could take place following the release of Nelson Mandela. It was based on a model declaration circulated by Local Authorities Against Apartheid. Altogether 42 councils adopted the declaration.

Poster advertising a concert by South African musician and political activist Mbuli Mzwakwe at Lambeth Town Hall, south London on 7 December 1990. Concerts featuring music from Southern Africa played a big part in attracting support in Britain for the Southern African liberation struggle in the 1980s and early 1990s. This concert was one of many such events sponsored by the London Borough of Lambeth.

AAM President Trevor Huddleston asked British local councils to help expose the undemocratic nature of the local government proposals put forward by the Nationalist Party in the negotiations for a new constitution. It also asked them to prepare to help South Africans build a non-racial local government system.

From 1989 the AAM held an annual sponsored Freedom Run and free concert in Brockwell Park, south London. The event raised funds for the AAM and publicised anti-apartheid campaigns. This poster advertised the 1991 event, ‘A Sun-Day Fun-Day. It was sponsored by the London Borough of Lambeth.

Local councillors in the London Borough of Lambeth cast symbolic votes as part of the AAM’s ‘Vote for Democracy’ campaign in 1991. The campaign called for ‘one person one vote’ in response to the National Party’s constitutional proposals, which gave special voting rights to the white minority.

Around 50 British local councils were represented at the sixth biennial conference of Local Authorities Against Apartheid in Manchester 25–26 March 1993. Moses Mayekiso, President of SANCO (South African National Civic Organisation) briefed the conference on plans for a new democratic local government system in South Africa. Councils pledged practical support in training observers for the April 1994 election. They pledged post-apartheid solidarity with all the countries of the Southern African region.