Women

ANC women picketed South Africa House to demand freedom for all women political prisoners on 7 March 1979, the eve of International Women's Day. They also called for the release of Solomon Mahlangu. In the photo are former political prisoner Dulcie September and ANC Women’s Section members Ramnie Dinat and Teresa Nannan.

Part autobiography and part a devastating indictment of apartheid, this booklet by Joyce Sikakane gives a vivid account of life in Soweto, South Africa’s largest township. The author fled South Africa in 1973 after standing trial with Winnie Mandela. The book was published by the International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF) and distributed by the Anti-Apartheid Movement.

Women played a big role in the liberation struggles in Namibia and Zimbabwe, as well as in South Africa. This pamphlet tells the stories of Southern African women who were imprisoned and banned because they fought back against apartheid and racism. It was published by the International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF) and distributed by the Anti-Apartheid Movement.

The AAM Women’s Committee produced this badge soon after its formation in the summer of 1980. 

Women on Merseyside set up a group to campaign for women in South Africa and Namibia in 1981, affiliated to the AAM and the SWAPO Women’s Solidarity Campaign. The group collected material aid for Namibian women refugees and material support for the ANC. In the 1980s women in many local AA groups set up women’s sub-committees or elected a women’s officer.

Leaflet publicising an event held to celebrate South African Women’s Day, 9 August 1982. The African National Congress Women’s Section was very active in London in the 1980s. It collected goods for the Charlotte Maxeke crèche and Solomon Mahlangu Freedom College in Tanzania and organised activity days for children from families of South African exiles in London.

Programme for a conference on women organised by AAM women members and the North West Regional Council of the TUC in Liverpool.

This workshop for AAM women members encouraged them to join in the activities of the AAM Women’s Committee. The workshop discussed the role of the women within the AAM and how to make women’s voices heard on other AAM committees.