AAM Archive, Bodleian Library
Activism in the 80s
British
Anti-Apartheid Movement
Overview
The British Anti-Apartheid Movement (AAM) of the 1980s was a powerful and impassioned response to apartheid in South Africa and the regime's racial segregation, oppression, and blatant human rights abuses. They were committed to raising awareness about these injustices and advocating for change using a wide array of actions:
Political Lobbying
Activists lobbied the British government to impose sanctions on South Africa, implement the UN mandatory arms embargo, and support international efforts to end apartheid. However, the Thatcher government did not impose any kind of sanctions and as a Security Council member it consistently vetoed sanctions at the UN (except for the 1977 arms embargo). It imposed a voluntary ban on tourism and a few other minor actions but did little to promote the anti-apartheid agenda. The government said it would stop funding trade missions but instead allowed others to fund them.
Labour Party leader Harold Wilson at a rally in Trafalgar Square 17 March 1963 (AAM Archive, Bodleian Library)
Boycotts and Divestment
The movement promoted consumer boycotts of South African goods and advocated for withdrawal from companies doing business in South Africa. This economic pressure aimed to weaken the apartheid regime.
Mass rallies, marches, and demonstrations were organized across the UK, drawing attention to the issue, and pressuring the British government to act.
Protests and Demonstrations
Sports and Cultural Boycott
The movement called for an end to all sporting contacts with South Africa and for artists and entertainers to refuse to perform there.
Political Prisoners and Detainees: Activists called for the release of South African and Namibian political prisoners and detainees and campaigned to save the lives of all those condemned to hang for opposing apartheid.
Supporters block the Springbok rugby team 20 December 1969 (AAM Archive, Bodleian Library)
Support for the South African and Namibian liberation movements
The movement advocated support for the African National Congress (ANC), Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) and SWAPO (South West Africa People’s Organisation of Namibia) as the leaders of the movement to overthrow apartheid.
Building a Wide Coalition
The aim was to build the widest possible coalition of organisations and individuals to support anti-apartheid campaigns, including trade unions, faith organisations, students, anti-racist and women’s groups, local authorities and political parties.
The British Anti-Apartheid Movement of the 1980s was a testament to the power of grassroots activism, international solidarity, and the unwavering commitment to justice. Within Britain it mobilised hundreds of thousands of people to boycott South African goods and take action to isolate the apartheid regime. Their actions contributed to the global pressure on South Africa, which became increasingly isolated diplomatically and economically. It played a crucial role in the global effort to end apartheid, ultimately contributing to the triumph of human rights and equality in South Africa.
18.10.1986. Dublin, Ireland. Irish Anti-Apartheid Movement public meeting in the Oak Room of the Mansion House. Left to right: Garry Kilgallen, vice-Chair; Louise Asmal, Hon. Secretary; Rev. Terence McCaughey, President; Kader Asmal, Chairman; Horst Kleinschmidt, representative of The International Defence and Aid Fund for Southern Africa. ©Photo by Derek Speirs (Image use subject to licence - credit photo Derek Speirs
Timeline
British Anti-Apartheid Movement
The Boycott Movement
In 1959 a group of South African exiles and their British supporters appealed for an international boycott of South African products.
In March 1960 the Boycott Movement organised a boycott month in Britain, with backing from the Labour and Liberal Parties and the TUC. All over the country supporters handed leaflets to shoppers asking them not to buy South African goods, held meetings and motorcades, and wrote letters to the press.
On 21 March 1960 the South African police massacred 69 people at Sharpeville in South Africa and the Boycott Movement transformed itself into the Anti-Apartheid Movement. The Movement no longer called just for a boycott of South African goods, but for the total isolation of apartheid South Africa and support for the liberation movements, ANC (African National Congress) and PAC (Pan-Africanist Congress).
March from Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square 28 February 1960 (AAM Archive, Bodleian Library)
The Anti-Apartheid Movement in the 1960s
The AAM’s campaign for an arms embargo had wide support, but the 1964–70 Labour government implemented only a partial ban. The Movement extended its campaign for the isolation of South Africa to sport, the arts and academia.
The decade ended on a high note with demonstrations against the 1969–70 Springbok rugby tour. Thousands of protesters disrupted play and joined mass marches at games all over Britain. As the rugby tour ended, the campaign to stop a visit by an all-white South African cricket tour took off. In June 1970 the AAM won its biggest victory so far with the cancellation of the Springbok tour.
AAM supporters in London 1965 (AAM Archive, Bodleian Library)
The Anti-Apartheid Movement in the 1970s
The 1970s were a pivotal decade in the struggle for freedom in Southern Africa. In South Africa the Soweto student uprising in 1976 and the growth of independent trade unions signalled a new wave of resistance. Guerrilla warfare spread in Zimbabwe and Namibia and the former Portuguese colonies of Angola and Mozambique won their independence.
In 1970 the Conservative government announced the lifting of Britain’s partial arms embargo against South Africa. The AAM led protests that ensured no major armaments were supplied. In 1977, the UN Security Council imposed a mandatory arms ban. The AAM set up the World Campaign against Military and Nuclear Collaboration with South Africa to ensure the ban was fully enforced.
Barclays Bank was the main target of AAM action to persuade British companies to pull out of South Africa. Other companies came under fire as stakeholders put pressure on universities, trade unions and churches to sell their holdings.
In 1973 the AAM joined with the International Defence and Aid Fund and other groups to set up Southern Africa the Imprisoned Society (SATIS). SATIS supported political prisoners and campaigned for their release.
Anti-apartheid supporters protesting in Downing Street (AAM Archive, Bodleian Library)
The Anti-Apartheid Movement in the 1980s
In the 1980s the Anti-Apartheid Movement grew from a small but determined pressure group into Britain’s biggest ever mass movement on an international issue. Zimbabwe held its first one person one vote elections in 1980 and the AAM stepped up its campaign for democracy in South Africa and Namibia. It mobilised hundreds of thousands of people all over Britain in demonstrations for sanctions against South Africa and the release of Nelson Mandela. It created a broad coalition of students, trade unionists, churches, political parties and community organisations to work for an end to all forms of British collaboration with apartheid.
In 1980 the AAM made a new call for the release of Nelson Mandela. Led by Glasgow in 1981, nine councils granted him the freedom of their cities. Hundreds of buildings, streets and gardens were named in his honour. In 1988 the AAM launched its biggest ever initiative ‘Nelson Mandela: Freedom at 70’. A capacity concert at Wembley Stadium was broadcast worldwide and 250,000 people gathered in Hyde Park to hear Archbishop Desmond Tutu demand Mandela’s release.
Scottish AAM supporters Glasgow 12 December 1980 (AAM Archive, Bodleian Library)
The Anti-Apartheid Movement in the 1990s
In February 1990 President de Klerk lifted the bans on the African National Congress, Pan-Africanist Congress and the South African Communist Party, and announced the release of Nelson Mandela. In March Namibia celebrated its independence. The way was open for negotiations for a new democratic constitution for South Africa.
As negotiations stopped and started, the AAM called for the maintenance of sanctions to keep up the pressure on the South African government to agree to genuine democracy. But Prime Minister Thatcher lifted Britain’s limited ‘restrictive measures’ on the eve of Mandela’s release. The cultural and sports boycott broke down as anti-apartheid organisations in South Africa looked forward to reconnecting with the rest of the world. In October 1993 the UN lifted economic sanctions in response to a request from the ANC. The UN arms embargo remained until after Mandela’s inauguration as President.
The AAM looked forward to a new era of post-apartheid solidarity, when South Africa and the other countries of the Southern Africa region would need support to overcome the legacy of apartheid. After South Africa’s first democratic election in April 1994 and the installation of Nelson Mandela as President, it transformed itself into a new organisation, Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA), which is still campaigning for equality and human rights in the region.
Demonstration outside South African Embassy in April 1991 (AAM Archive, Bodleian Library)
History outline courtesy of the AAM Archives.
Key Organisations
African National Congress (ANC)
The African National Congress (ANC) was at the forefront of the anti-apartheid movement. Established in 1912, the ANC initially used nonviolent tactics to oppose apartheid. However, following the Sharpeville Massacre in 1960 and the subsequent banning of the ANC, it adopted armed struggle as a means to end apartheid. Nelson Mandela's leadership from prison galvanized international support for the ANC's cause, ultimately leading to negotiations and the end of apartheid.
Bomb damage at the ANC office in north London (ACTSA)
Pan Africanist Congress (PAC)
The Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) emerged in 1959 as a more radical alternative to the ANC. Its founding manifesto emphasized a militant approach to ending apartheid and colonialism. The PAC's call for a "positive action" campaign in 1960 led to the Sharpeville Massacre, a turning point in the anti-apartheid struggle.
SWAPO and Namibia Support Committee
The South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) sought not only to end apartheid but also to gain independence for Namibia (then known as South West Africa). The Namibia Support Committee played a crucial role in advocating for Namibian liberation and raising awareness about the intertwined struggles in South Africa and Namibia.
Campaigns against apartheid often included a focus on Namibia due to its status as a South African-administered territory. SWAPO's armed struggle for Namibian independence paralleled the fight against apartheid and drew international attention to the broader struggle for self-determination.
AAM Archive, Bodleian Library
War Resisters
War Resisters Against Apartheid, also known as War Resisters International, consisted of individuals who refused to serve in the South African Defence Force or work in military-related industries, taking a principled stand against apartheid. Their actions illustrated the power of individual conscience in the struggle for justice.
London Recruits
The London Recruits were a covert and courageous group of anti-apartheid activists who operated during the 1970s and 1980s. Comprised mainly of young British volunteers, their mission was to undermine the apartheid regime in South Africa by smuggling propaganda materials, such as leaflets and newspapers, into the country. Working under the radar, the London Recruits faced immense risks, including the threat of arrest, imprisonment, and violence
ELTSA (End Loans to Southern Africa)
End Loans to Southern Africa (ELTSA) was a British campaign that targeted the financial underpinnings of apartheid. ELTSA urged banks and financial institutions to halt loans to the South African government, effectively cutting off a significant source of funding for the regime. This economic pressure complemented other anti-apartheid efforts.
AAM Archive, Bodleian Library
Forms of Boycott
A key strategy of the anti-apartheid movement was the use of various forms of boycotts, collectively known as sanctions. The AAM advocated breaking all links with South Africa and these measures were designed to isolate the apartheid regime, weaken its hold, and ultimately lead to its dismantling.
Arms Embargo
One of the earliest forms of boycott was the arms embargo. Activists and governments alike recognized the importance of denying the apartheid regime access to military weaponry. International pressure led to a halt in arms sales to South Africa, depriving the government of crucial resources and reducing its capacity to maintain control.
Sporting Boycott
Sporting boycotts were a powerful tool in the anti-apartheid arsenal. South Africa's exclusion from international sporting events sent a strong message. The 1960 boycott of the Rome Olympics was a notable early example, followed by the global ban on South African teams, which persisted until the end of apartheid.
Consumer Boycott
Consumer boycotts urged people worldwide to stop purchasing South African products. This grassroots movement had a significant economic impact, with shoppers refusing to support companies that profited from apartheid. Boycotts targeted products ranging from fruit to automobiles.
AAM Archive, Bodleian Library
Disinvestment
Disinvestment campaigns focused on persuading institutions, including universities, religious organizations, and pension funds, to divest from companies with ties to South Africa. Divestment had a crippling effect on the South African economy, and the pressure to cut financial links with apartheid became a global phenomenon.
Cultural Boycott
Cultural boycotts saw artists, musicians, writers, and performers refuse to engage with South African cultural institutions or participate in events that promoted apartheid. This artistic activism drew international attention and galvanized cultural figures to lend their voices to the struggle.
The 1980s were a pivotal time for cultural activism against apartheid. Musicians like Peter Gabriel released songs like "Biko" that brought attention to the plight of Steve Biko, while the play "The Island" by Athol Fugard shed light on the brutal conditions of political prisoners on Robben Island.
Emigration Boycott
The emigration boycott called on people not to immigrate to South Africa, severing personal and professional links with the apartheid regime. It emphasized that true solidarity meant refusing to benefit from or contribute to apartheid in any way.
AAM Archive, Bodleian Library
1984 Demonstration
In June 1984, P.W. Botha, the President of South Africa and a staunch defender of apartheid, embarked on a diplomatic tour of Western nations. His goal was to gather support for his government, which faced increasing international isolation due to its discriminatory policies. However, what awaited him in the United Kingdom was a massive demonstration that would challenge the very core of apartheid.
The demonstration against Botha's visit was a powerful display of unity among anti-apartheid activists, civil rights organizations, trade unions, faith groups, and concerned citizens. Leading the charge were organizations like the Anti-Apartheid Movement (AAM), which had been tirelessly advocating for sanctions and boycotts against South Africa.
Cameron Brisbane/AAM Archives Committee
On June 28, 1984, Trafalgar Square in London witnessed an extraordinary gathering of tens of thousands of people. The square resonated with passionate speeches, songs, and chants of protest. Demonstrators held placards condemning apartheid and called for an end to British complicity in propping up the South African regime.
As the demonstration grew and intensified, the police response was heavy-handed. Clashes between protesters and law enforcement resulted in injuries and arrests. The police's use of force was widely criticized and further fuelled global outrage against apartheid.
The 1984 demonstration was a turning point in the international campaign against apartheid. It sent a clear message to the South African government that the world rejected its policies of racial discrimination. Media coverage of the event amplified the anti-apartheid message, reaching millions around the globe.
Cameron Brisbane/AAM Archives Committee
Legacy of the AAM
Legacy of the Anti-Apartheid Movement
The anti-apartheid movement spanned several decades and encompassed various forms of protest and advocacy and played a pivotal role in dismantling the oppressive apartheid regime in South Africa.
Grassroots activists, students, trade unions, artists, and politicians came together to demand an end to apartheid policies and the release of Nelson Mandela, who had become a global symbol of resistance. They engaged in boycotts, protests, and educational campaigns, raising awareness about the moral and economic implications of apartheid.
Mendi Msimang, chief representative of the African National Congress, meets Archbishop Trevor Huddleston, President of the Anti-Apartheid Movement (PA Images)
One of the enduring legacies of the anti-apartheid movement in the UK is its contribution to shaping a more socially conscious and politically engaged society. It ignited a sense of global citizenship, prompting people to recognize their role in advocating for justice not only in South Africa but also in other parts of the world.
This movement demonstrated that ordinary citizens could influence foreign policy decisions and corporations' actions through peaceful means and is a testament to the enduring power of collective action, international solidarity, and the unwavering pursuit of justice.
Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives
Forward to Freedom is an online archive charting the history of the British Anti-Apartheid Movement from 1959 to 1994 and its campaigns to support the people of South Africa in their fight against apartheid. The website details the anti-apartheid activities that hundreds of thousands of people all over Britain took part in. The website is part of a wider education project set up by the AAM Archives Committee that includes a pop-up exhibition and learning resources.
The AAM archive is held at the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford and is open to researchers on application for a Bodleian reader’s card. The archive of Wales AAM is at the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth and that of the Scottish AA Committee at Glasgow Caledonian University. Records for many local AA Groups and for the London Anti-Apartheid Committee are held at local record offices.
Find out more about the AAM Archives
Protest against the Boipatong massacre, June 1992 (AAM Archives)
Anti-Apartheid Legacy
Operated by The Liliesleaf Trust UK, a registered charity established in 2018 by former anti-apartheid and anti- racial discrimination activists, the anti-Apartheid Legacy: Centre of Memory & Learning exists to connect the learnings from the international solidarity movement against apartheid to deliver their equalities focused mission: “Empower communities today through the heritage of anti-apartheid in Britain, exploring how solidarity, equality, anti-racism, and civic participation can change the world”.
They promote and engage these values to encourage positive action for diverse contemporary communities through arts, cultural and educational programming. Their Centre, a permanent home for their programme and outreach is set to open, in the former London HQ of the ANC-in-exile, in late 2024.
Find out more about the Anti-Apartheid Legacy
Architect's mock up of the front of the new museum at Penton Street ( Anti-Apartheid Legacy)
