Belgium / Koninkrijk België / Royaume de Belgique
The first anti-apartheid activities in Belgium took place in the late 1960s. The Belgium AAMs were also involved in the campaigns of other European anti-apartheid organisations. Since the headquarters of the European Economic Community (EEC) (now European Union) was in Brussels, a lot of lobbying for the implementation of comprehensive sanctions against South Africa and diplomatic activities took place in Belgium.
Anti-Apartheid Organisations/People
Action Committee on Southern Africa / Aktie Komitee Zuiderlijk Afrika (AKZA)
AKZA was a national organisation based in the Flemish speaking part of Belgium. It operated from 1972-1991 and developed out of progressive student organisations. It started as the Flemish Angola Committee and supported the liberation movements directly. They organised numerous boycott campaigns and was instrumental in the formation of the largest social action coalition in Flanders, the Flemish Anti-Apartheid Coalition (Vlaamse Anti-Apartheid Koalitie - VAAK). It also collaborated with other AAMs and was part of the Liaison Group of Anti-Apartheid Movements within the European Community (known as The Liaison Group).
The Catholic University of Leuven holds the entire archive of the organisation.
The UWC/RIM Mayibuye Archives holds a substantial collection covering the period 1972-1991.
http://www.robben-island.org.za
Other Organisations/People
Oxfam Solidarity Belgium / Oxfam Solidariteit België
Oxfam Solidarity Belgium started in 1964 as an organisation geared towards solidarity with struggles for self determination. It existed of three separate sections and it was the Oxfam-Solidarity section that joined anti-apartheid activities from around 1973 till 1994. Oxfam mainly joined campaigns organised by the Committee against Colonialism and Apartheid and the Flemish Anti-Apartheid Coalition (VAAK) but also organised its own demonstrations against apartheid. It was very active in the fruit boycott campaign and the campaigns against banks with ties with South Africa. It supported the Kagiso Trust Fund and the ANC office in Brussels.
Oxfam Solidarity Belgium holds the archives of the organisation.
Peace / Vrede
Peace was a national organisation that operated from approximately 1971 to 1985. It participated in the boycott campaigns and the activities of VAAK and Boycot Apartheid.
The Institute for Social History in Ghent holds the archive of Peace. It covers the period 1976-1985 and contains documents regarding Boycott Apartheid and the Flemish Anti-Apartheid Front for the period 1976-1977
