Browse the AAM Archive

To mark its 25th anniversary on 26 June 1984, the AAM relaunched the campaign for a boycott of South African goods at a press conference at the House of Commons. It produced a new ‘boycott kit’ of stickers and leaflets asking shoppers to support the boycott, distributed by supporters all over Britain.

ANC member Jeanette Schoon and her six-year old daughter Katryn were killed in Angola by a parcel bomb sent by the South African security services on 28 June 1984. AAM protesters gathered on the steps of St Martin‘s in the Fields because the police banned demonstrations on the pavement in front of South Africa House.

1984 was designated the Year of the Women by the African National Congress. This meeting in Hampstead Town Hall, organised by Southern Africa the Imprisoned Society (SATIS), the AAM Women’s Committee and SWAPO Women’s Solidaity Campaign, was one of the events held to mark the year. It highlighted the harsh conditions suffered by South African and Namibian women political prisoners.

The AAM Women’s Committee highlighted women’s role in the anti-apartheid struggle by celebrating South Africa Women’s Day, 9 August. This leaflet publicised a fundraising party in Haringey Women’s Centre, north London, in 1984.

South Africa Women’s Day was marked by a packed and enthusiastic meeting in Hackney Town Hall on 9 August 1984. The meeting was organised by the ANC’s London Women’s Committee. Left to right: ANC Women’s Section representatives Florence Maleka and Felicia Mzamo, Labour MP Joan Lestor and Glenys Kinnock. 1984 was designated the Year of the Women by the African National Congress.

In August 1984 the South African government detained the leaders of the United Democratic Front (UDF). The UDF organised a boycott of the segregated elections held under South Africa’s new constitution. After being temporarily freed, six of the detainees took refuge in the British consulate in Durban. Students in Britain picketed the South African embassy to demand safe passage for the detainees.

Leaflet publicising a meeting to set up a new local anti-apartheid group in Wandsworth, south London, in 1984. 

Islington AA Group held its inaugural meeting in July 1984, with a film show and contributions from ANC representative M D Naidoo and local Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn. Its newsletter flagged up the consumer boycott, sales of AA News and the collection of material support for SWAPO as the group’s main activities.