Students

Poster produced for the campaign to make Barclays Bank withdraw from South Africa. The campaign started in 1969 in response to Barclays’ involvement in financing the Cabora Bassa dam in Mozambique. Students played a big part in the campaign, which asked individuals and organisations to withdraw their accounts. Barclays finally pulled out of South Africa in 1986. 

Thousands of people marched through central London on 27 June 1976 to protest against the South African police massacre of school students in Soweto. The march was led by ANC members carrying a symbolic coffin. Right to left: ANC members John Matshikiza, Billy Nannan and Garth Strachan.

Leaflet publicising the fifth annual conference held by the NUS/AAM student network, held at Sheffield University, 9–11 July 1976. The conference prioritised campaigns against investment in South Africa and collecting material aid for the liberation movements. It took place as student unrest erupted throughout South Africa after the police opened fire on school students in Soweto in June 1976.

Shortly after the Soweto uprising in 1976, NUS Executive Committee member Paul Blomfield made an undercover visit to South Africa at the request of the ANC. He visited Johannesburg, Cape Town, East London and Durban, and met leaders of the South African Students Organisation (SASO), trade unionists and representatives of the Christian Institute and Human Rights Committee. The report of his visit was published by the International Union of Students.

Southampton University Student Union banner on a march to Trafalgar Square calling for an end to British arms sales to South Africa and a freeze on investment, 6 March 1977. 

Poster advertising a march and rally on 18 June 1977 to mark the first anniversary of the Soweto student uprising, organised by the National Union of Students and the National Union of School Students with support from the AAM. The rally was addressed by future South African Cabinet minister Nkosazana Dlamini, then Vice-President of the South African Student Organisation (SASO), Stephen Dlamini, President of SACTU, and British student leaders, including future Labour Cabinet Minister Charles Clarke.

Demonstrators marched through central London on 18 June 1977 to mark the first anniversary of the Soweto uprising. The march was organised by the National Union of Students and National Union of School Students, with support from the AAM. Two days before, Nkosazana Dlamini and Canon Collins spoke at a commemoration service in the crypt of St Martin’s in the Fields. In Scotland AAM supporters held a vigil outside South Africa’s Glasgow consulate. 

In 1977 Hull students renewed their campaign for the university to sell its shares in companies with South African interests. This pamphlet set out the case for disinvestment.