1990s

AA News led on an AAM activists conference that launched an emergency campaign in response to the crisis facing the peace process in South Africa. It told de Klerk on his visit to Britain to stop ‘Talking Peace – Making War’. It reported on the EU’s relaxation of sanctions. Elaine Unterhalter described the apartheid education system and the plans for change put forward by South Africa’s National Education Coordinating Committee. Tanzanian High Commissioner John Malecela called for continuing support for the frontline states.

The December issue reported on de Klerk’s concessions in negotiations for the release of political prisoners, but warned against the relaxation of sanctions. Tony O’Dowd analysed key issues in the forthcoming negotiations for a new South African constitution. AA News reported on moves by east European countries to establish ties with South Africa. Its ‘Pillars of Apartheid’ feature focused on land and housing. It called for continued solidarity with the frontline states.

This issue led on the ANC consultative conference held in December 1990, which called on de Klerk to remove the obstacles to negotiations. It condemned the European Community’s decision to lift the ban on new investment in South Africa. It reported on the AAM’s AGM and it emergency campaign ‘Tell de Klerk – Stop the violence and repression’. Namibia’s first high commissioner to Britain told AA News about the issues facing the newly independent country. 

The March issue reported on crisis talks on 12 February between the ANC and the South African Government, which broke the negotiating deadlock. It welcomed the decision by the Commonwealth to maintain sanctions. In the first of a new ‘Peace Process Monitor’ series, AA News set out the key issues for negotiation. It reported on the South African democratic movement’s discussions about new structures for local government and sport. Frene Ginwala told AA News that the ANC must involve more women in the negotiating process.

AA News led on the South African Government’s land reform proposals, which failed to restore land to dispossessed South Africans. It reported on the AAM regional conferences held to discuss current issues and future prospects. Mick Flynn described moves to set up a new South African Interim National Olympic Committee. AA News reprinted an ANC statement on the cultural boycott, calling for links with non-racial South African cultural groups to stay open. It unveiled proposals for twinning areas of Britain and 14 ANC regions in South Africa. Mary Beale outlined the challenges facing the education sector in a future democratic South Africa.

The May–June issue focused on the spiralling violence in South Africa and the South African Government’s failure to meet the 30 April deadline for the release of political prisoners agreed with the ANC. It reported on de Klerk’s visit to Europe in April and Labour MPs boycott of the reception held for him at South Africa House. Sipho Pityana examined the crisis facing South Africa’s Bantustans. Louise Asmal described her visit to political prisoners who were still being held on death row in Pretoria Central Prison.

AA News again highlighted the stalling of the peace process because of the South African Government’s failure to take steps to end violence in the townships. It featured the ANC’s national conference held in Durban in July. It publicised plans for an AAM conference on post-apartheid solidarity action. Marga Holness reported on the situation in Angola and Deborah Ewing on the breakdown of the talks to end the civil war in Mozambique. In a special black solidarity feature, Lela Kogbara argued that after the formal end of apartheid, black South Africans would still struggle against external and internalised racism.

The September issue led on the exposure of South African Government secret funding of anti-ANC groups. It reported on the election of a new ANC leadership at the movement’s Durban conference. In a special trade union supplement, AA News featured COSATU’s conference held in July. A centre spread described the links between British and South African trade unions and the work of the AAM trade union committee. Gerald O’Sullivan reported on continuing repression in the Bophuthatswana Bantustan.