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Leeds students campaigned for Leeds University to sell its shares in all companies with South African interests throughout the 1970s. In response to student pressure the university sold its holdings in ICI in 1973 and agreed to disinvest from firms whose South African involvement exceeded 5% of their total interests. This bulletin pointed out that this excluded firms which made a strategically important contribution to the apartheid economic like the oil companies Shell and BP.

Leeds students produced this badge for their campaign to persuade Leeds University to sell its shares in companies with South African interests. They set up Leeds University South Africa Anti-Investment Group as part of a campaign co-ordinated by the NUS-AAM student network in the 1970s. In response to student pressure, the university sold its holdings in ICI in 1973 and agreed to disinvest from firms whose South African involvement exceeded 5% of their total interests. 

Shell and BP were two of South Africa’s main oil suppliers and together owned its biggest oil refinery. After the publication of the first edition of this pamphlet the Bingham Inquiry exposed their complicity in breaking oil sanctions against the illegal Smith regime in Rhodesia. The pamphlet provided a detailed exposé of how the oil companies supported white minority rule throughout Southern Africa. 

Anti-apartheid supporters picketed around 250 branches of Barclays Bank all over Britain on 1 March 1978. This photo shows anti-apartheid supporters outside a Barclays branch in Leeds. The pickets were part of a March month of action against apartheid held to launch the UN International Anti-Apartheid Year. Barclays Bank was the biggest high street bank in South Africa. After a 16-year campaign by the AAM, it withdrew from South Africa in 1986.

Anti-apartheid supporters picketed around 250 branches of Barclays Bank all over Britain on 1 March 1978. The pickets were part of a March month of action against apartheid held to launch the UN International Anti-Apartheid Year. The photograph shows a protest outside a branch of Barclays in Victoria, central London organised by End Loans to Southern Africa (ELTSA). British-owned Barclays Bank was the biggest high street bank in South Africa. After a 16-year campaign by the AAM, Barclays withdrew from South Africa in 1986.

The International Conference of Trade Unions Against Apartheid held in Geneva in 1977 called for an international week of trade union action in March 1978. The AAM provided information and support for British trade unions taking part in the week. This leaflet asked them to disinvest from companies with South African subsidiaries and lobby the government to support UN economic sanctions against South Africa.

The International Conference of Trade Unions Against Apartheid held in Geneva in 1977 called for an international week of trade union action to be held in March 1978. The AAM provided information and support for British trade unions taking part in the week. This leaflet asked them to disinvest from companies with South African subsidiaries and lobby the government to support UN economic sanctions against South Africa.

Trade unionists picketed South Africa House on 15 March 1978 as part of a week of trade union solidarity with South African trade unionists. The solidarity week was initiated by an international trade union conference held in Geneva the previous year.