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Nelson Mandela asked the British local authorities that had campaigned for a free South Africa to build partnerships for a post-apartheid programme of reconstruction and development, when he spoke at Glasgow City Hall in October 1993.

As soon the date of South Africa’s first democratic election was agreed, the AAM launched a ‘Countdown to Democracy’ campaign. This leaflet highlighted the special problems faced by South African women in casting their votes freely and without fear of violence.

After agreement was reached on 27 April 1994 as the date for one person one vote elections in South Africa, the AAM campaigned to ensure the elections were free and fair. Its Countdown to Democracy programme focused on voter education. This leaflet asked for donations for a special Education for Democracy in South Africa Fund, supported by the main British teacher unions and the National Union of Students.

Scotland was twinned with the Transkei in the twinning programme set up by the AAM in the early 1990s. This appeal asked the Scottish people to support voter education, literacy, and women’s and arts projects in South Africa, as well as the work of the Scottish AA Committee. In 1994 Scottish AA set up Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA) Scotland, which forged close links with the new Eastern Cape province.

Sheffield AAM aimed to raise £5,000 for the ANC Election Fund in the run-up to South Africa’s first democratic election in April 1994. The Fund raised £1,000,000 in Britain, much of it from the trade union movement.

Poster for a concert to raise funds for the ANC election campaign in South Africa’s first democratic election in April 1994. The concert was organised by Nottingham anti-apartheid supporters and was supported by Nottingham City Council. It took place in the Marcus Garvey Centre, an Afro-Caribbean community centre in Nottingham’s Lenton district, and featured the Zimbabwean group, the Bhundu Boys.

In the run-up to South Africa’s first one person one vote election, the AAM called for a full complement of election observers from Britain and the international community, and asked British local authorities and other organisations to support voter education workshops in South Africa.