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The new Labour Government must fulfil Labour’s pledges on the isolation of South Africa, argued AA News. It reported on country-wide action in the AAM’s ‘No Collaboration’ campaign and on a TUC conference to discuss the report of its delegation to South Africa. It examined the prospects for the liberation of Portugal’s African colonies following the overthrow of the Caetano dictatorship. It carried more first-hand reports of the spreading guerrilla war in Zimbabwe.

A picture spread featured the AAM’s Freedom Convention held in London’s Camden Lock in 30 June, following a conference on Southern Africa for the British labour movement. The issue reported on a NUSAS (National Union of South African Students) campaign for the release of political prisoners and lack of medical treatment for life prisoner Bram Fischer. On Zimbabwe, it reported on another attempt to impose a sell-out agreement. Brian Bunting showed how the introduction of television to South Africa would be used to promote apartheid and Vella Pillay showed how the apartheid economy was backed by international banks.

‘Labour must stand by its pledges’, declared this issue. It reported on Vorster’s crackdown against SWAPO in Namibia and on the forced removal of whole villages in Zimbabwe. Vella Pillay exposed how international oil majors were circumventing the Arab oil boycott of South Africa. Paul Fauvet analysed the difficult path ahead for the liberation movements of the Portuguese colonies in moving to independence. Jean Middleton examined the manpower shortage faced by the South African Defence Force.

The October issue attacked the Labour Government’s decision to take part in naval manoeuvres with South Africa and called for an end to the Simonstown Agreement. It celebrated the imminent independence of Mozambique and Guinea Bissau. Hugh Bayley reviewed the NUS-AAM student campaign to pressure British universities to disinvest from South Africa. In a special feature, AA News reported on the growth of independent unions in South Africa. Leading trade unionists critiqued the report of the TUC’s South African delegation. 

This issue called for an end to all military links with South Africa. It reported on a recent NUS-AAM student network conference and on action by students in Manchester, Bristol and Oxford. Labour MPs Jo Richardson, Ioan Evans and Robert Hughes argued the Labour Government must implement Labour Party policy on South Africa and Namibia. John Lawrence examined the activities of the pro-apartheid Club of Ten. A centrespread warned that South Africa was mobilising against newly independent Mozambique.

AA News announced a visit to London by Angela Davis to speak at a meeting calling for the release of Southern African political prisoners. A feature on the Zimbabwean economy showed how South Africa and Portugal had helped it circumvent international sanctions. A special correspondent argued Nationalist Party plans for a ‘settlement’ in Namibia were a device to perpetuate South African control. Abdul Minty exposed Labour Government plans to continue military co-operation with South Africa after the ending of the Simonstown Agreement. 

The February issue reported on the Black Renaissance Convention organised by black consciousness groups in Natal, inspired by the victory of the liberation movements in Portugal’s African colonies. It exposed the sham elections held in northern Namibia. It printed extracts from Angela Davis’s speech calling for the release of Southern African political prisoners. A round-up of AAM-NUS network student news included reports from Durham, Salford, Glasgow and Nottingham. A special feature set out the case for an academic boycott of South Africa.

This issue led on the AAM’s demonstration against British military collaboration with South Africa called for 23 March. It asked for solidarity action with the black consciousness activists detained for organising pro-FRELIMO rallies. It revealed new death sentences on Zimbabwe guerrilla fighters and reported on the parliamentary debate on Rhodesian sanctions. An interview with SWAPO leader John Otto told of brutal repression in Namibia. A special correspondent warned of the threat of famine in Mozambique and Cape Verde.