United Kingdom (UK) / United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
The colonial ties of the United Kingdom with South Africa played an important part in shaping the anti-apartheid struggle in the country. The first anti-apartheid activities took place around the Treason Trial and started with the Boycott Movement Committee. The Anti-Apartheid Movement grew from a small organisation to a national organisation. The presence of official representatives of the liberation movements in the UK played an important role in the growth of the solidarity movement.
Anti-Apartheid Organisations/People
Africa Bureau
The Africa Bureau set up in 1952 by, amongst others, Mary Benson and Rev Michael Scott, and operated until 1978. It was active in the area of international sanctions and worked with the AAM in the 1960s. It later split into the Africa Bureau and Africa Educational Trust.
The Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford holds a substantial archive covering the period 1952-1978.
The Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London holds a small collection with papers covering the period 1952 -1968, as well as small collection of Mary Benson’s papers covering the period 1946 – 1974. It contains research notes, transcripts of interviews, press cuttings and papers relating to the AAM and the Commonwealth.
http://commonwealth.sas.ac.uk/
Africa Educational Trust (AET)
The Africa Educational Trust (AET) was founded in 1958. Originally, it was part of the Africa Bureau which later split into the Educational and Publication Trust. The main aim was to help exiles and refugees with their education.
The organisation holds its own archives.
http://www.africaeducationaltrust.org
Anti- Apartheid Movement (AAM)
The AAM started in 1959 under the name The Boycott Movement Committee. It changed its name to AAM in 1960 after the Sharpeville massacre to become a permanent organisation. It grew into one of the biggest anti-apartheid organisations in the world with committees covering specific subjects and branches all over the UK. It was a member of the European Liaison Group. It was often the fore-runner and initiator of international campaigns and worked closely with the ANC and UN agencies. It dissolved itself in 1995 to continue as Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA).
The Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford has the complete archive of the organisation. The archive also contains a lot of information on other AAMs in the world as well as international organisations.
The Borthwick Institute of Historical Research at York University holds a collection of papers of Judge Kellock. He was the Chairman of the AAM from 1963-1965, acted as an observer for IDAF and was sent by Christian Action to attend the Rivonia Trial in 1964. The archive covers the period 1959-1966.
The School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London has a small collection of materials.
Anti-Apartheid Movement - Scottish Committee
Activities in Scotland started in the 1960s by AAM branches in Glasgow and Edinburgh, leading to the establishment of the Scottish Committee and opening an office in 1989. It was active in boycott campaigns, support to South African anti-apartheid organisations, the End Loans to South Africa campaigns and the call for comprehensive sanctions. It had a women’s subcommittee, youth desk and a trade union subcommittee as well as a Scottish Committee for Local Authority Action against Apartheid. It dissolved in 1994 and continued as the Scottish Committee of Action for Southern Africa (SCTSA).
The Glasgow Caledonian University holds the complete archive of the organisation covering the period 1965-1995, the bulk being from 1975.
The UWC/RIM Mayibuye Archives holds a collection of their publications.
http://www.robben-island.org.za
Anti-Apartheid Movement - Wales
The Anti-Apartheid Movement Wales was a branch of the national AAM and participated in many national campaigns.
The University of Wales, Swansea holds a collection covering the period 1975-1998. It contains correspondence, newsletters and conference papers.
Birmingham Anti-Apartheid Movement
Birmingham Anti-Apartheid Movement was formed around 1966 and was very active in the consumer boycott. It started twinning projects with the ANC in the Western Transvaal and organised an annual ‘Soweto Walk’ to raise funds.
Birmingham Central Library holds a collection starting in 1966 but mainly covering the period 1980-1990s.
Bishop Ambrose Reeves Trust (BART)
The Bishop Ambrose Reeves Trust (BART) started in 1965 as the South Africa Racial Amity Trust (SARAT) to promote the knowledge about apartheid through research and publications. It paid special attention to the plight of children under apartheid. It was renamed BART in 1980 in honour of its treasurer. It was dissolved in 1996.
The Rhodes House Library which encompasses the Bodleian Library of Commonwealth & African Studies at Rhodes House, University of Oxford, has the complete archive of the organisation.
British Defence and Aid Fund Southern Africa (BDAF)
BDAF was the forerunner of IDAF. It started life as an initiative of Canon Collins to merge all the Christian Aid funds for South Africa sometime between 1958 and 1961. Its role was to raise funds for the legal defence of political prisoners, and for their families, and later to raise public consciousness in the UK for the international organisation.
The Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford holds the entire archive of the organisation.
Canon Collins Educational Trust for Southern Africa (CCETSA)
The Cannon Collins Trust was founded by BDAF in 1981 to assist South African and Namibian refugee students to receive higher education and training. Students received their training in the UK and independent African states.
The archives are held by the organisations.
http://www.canoncollins.org.uk/
Christian Concern for Southern Africa (CCSA)
CCSA was established in 1966 to coordinate the response of churches in the UK to the political situation in South Africa. It carried out research into British companies operating in South Africa and established an Oil Working Group in 1979 as well as working towards sanctions against South Africa and provided an Ethical Investment Research Service. It maintained links with churches in South Africa. It was dissolved in 1993.
The School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London holds the archives covering the period 1966-1993.
City of London Anti-Apartheid Group (CLAAG)
The City of London Anti-Apartheid Group was a breakaway group (allied to the Revolutionary Communist Group) of the national AAM and organised campaigns in the London Metropolitan area. Its membership was expelled from the national AAM in 1987.
The London Metropolitan Archives holds a collection covering the period 1976-1996. It also has the personal collection of David Kenvyn who was chairperson of the London AAM. It contains printed materials, correspondence, campaign materials, minutes, conference papers and photographs.
http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
The school of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London has some printed materials.
The Borthwick Institute of Historical Research at York University holds some campaign materials covering the period 1972-1975.
The UWC/RIM Mayibuye Archives holds some materials covering the period 1982-1995 within the Norma and David Kitson collection.
http://www.robben-island.org.za
Committee on South African War Resistance (COSAWR)
COSAWR was founded in 1978 by South African draft (military service) resisters active in the UK. It was a self-help organisation for those escaping conscription in the SADF and to support those who were resisting conscription within the country. It raised the issue of militarism in South Africa and conducted research into the South African military structure and resistance to it. COSAWR established a presence in several other European countries.
The Manuscripts and Archives section of the University of Cape Town holds the entire archive of the organisations.
The Law Faculty at Florida State University holds materials covering the period 1980-1992 containing leaflets and publications.
Edinburgh Anti-Apartheid Group
This local organisations was active from 1980-1992. It was involved in the Walter Sisulu Campaign Fund and the Nelson Mandela Free at 70 Campaign.
The Edinburgh University Library holds a small collection of the organisation’s documents.
End Loans to Southern Africa (ELTSA)
The End Loans to Southern Africa (ELTSA) started in 1974 with campaigns against British banks with South Africa ties. Its aim was to end apartheid through the imposition of effective financial sanctions. It broadened its work to include consumer and shareholder action and parliamentary lobbying. It did a lot of research to support its campaigns. It transformed itself into the Southern Africa Economic Research Unit (SAERU) in 1994.
The Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford holds the entire archive.
Exeter and District Anti-Apartheid Group
This group started around 1966 and was affiliated to the national AAM. Besides anti-apartheid campaigns it also campaigned against racism elsewhere in the world.
University of Exeter holds the entire archive of the organisation, covering the period 1970s-1990s.
The University of Exeter also holds the papers of Mervyn Bennun, who was chairman and secretary of the organisation.
Hannah Stanton
Hannah Stanton was a missionary and anti-apartheid activist. She worked in South Africa until her arrest in 1960 for anti-apartheid activities. After her deportation to the UK she became involved in various campaigns including those of the AAM.
The School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London holds her archive covering the period 1938-1993. It contains correspondence, journals, speeches and photographs. It includes material concerning Helen Joseph with whom she once shared a prison cell.
Health and Refugee Trust of South Africa (HEART)
The Health and Refugee Trust of South Africa (HEART) started in 1988 and continued till 1995. The prime objective of this organisation was to provide health and welfare to South African refugees. They sought to actively promote health education, immunisation, nutrition, and provision of essential drugs, water and sanitation and treatment of common diseases.
The Glasgow Caledonian University holds the entire archive of the organisation and forms part of the George H. Johannes collection.
Institute of Commonwealth Studies
The ICS has a substantial collection of papers concerning the ant-apartheid struggle including the papers of Ruth First, Mary Benson, Baruch Hirson and many ANC documents.
http://commonwealth.sas.ac.uk/
Lawyers against Apartheid
Lawyers against Apartheid was formed in 1986 to organise the legal community in the UK. It was affiliated to the AAM. As a specialist organisation, it concentrated on the exposure of the illegitimacy of the apartheid regime and promoting the Prisoner of War (POW) status for captured freedom fighters. It dissolved in 1996.
The Glasgow Caledonian University has a substantial collection covering the period 1977-1996 but predominantly 1986-1991. It contains minutes, papers, news cuttings and campaign materials.
Oil Working Group (OWG)
The Oil Working Group was created in 1980 by War on Want, the Methodist Church Oversees Division and the United Reform Church to raise the issue of illegal oil exports to Southern Africa. They lobbied oil companies, raised questions at annual general meetings, undertook research and publicised their findings. The group was renamed Embargo in 1985 and ELTSA took over its administration. Embargo functioned until 1993.
The Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford holds the archives of the organisation as part of the ELTSA collection.
http://www.ouls.ox.ac.uk/rhodes
World Gold Commission (WGC)
The World Gold Commission (WGC) was founded in 1988 to promote worldwide sanctions against South African gold sales. It received financial support from the UN Centre Against Apartheid and was backed by the AAM and the liberation movements. It was active in information dissemination and the presentation of evidence to international bodies.
The Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford holds the archives of the organisation as part of the ELTSA collection.
http://www.ouls.ox.ac.uk/rhodes
Other Organisations/People
Africa Centre
The Africa Centre was established in 1964 in London to create awareness about developments in Africa. Leading African artists, writers, politicians and musicians met at the centre and it served as a platform by organising evenings with theatre and discussions.
http://www.africacentre.org.uk
Campaign against Arms Trade (CAAT)
The Campaign against Arms Trade (CAAT) was established in 1974 by several peace and other organisations concerned about the growing arms trade. It is a broad coalition of organisations working towards ending the arms trade. It works through local groups and networks and organises demonstrations and campaigns.
The organisation holds its own archive and contains a substantial amount of information about South Africa and the arms trade.
Justice
Justice, the British section of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) started in the late 1950s as a response to the arrest of people in South Africa in 1956 which led to the Treason Trial. It sent observers to the trial. It sees itself as an expert, independent body rather than a pressure group and its main aim is to observe the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by securing fair trials, especially political trials of opponents of apartheid.
The Brynmor Jones Library at Hull University holds the archives of the organisation covering the period 1950-1991.
Liberation
Liberation started in 1954 as the Movement for Colonial Freedom (MCF) and changed its name in 1970 to Liberation. Its mission was to work towards the political freeing of colonial peoples and political independence. It worked with trade unions and the labour party, supported the AAM, War on Want and other organisations. It did a lot of educational work, organised public meetings, conference and lobbied government. It dissolved in 1997.
The School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London holds the entire archive of the organisation, incorporating those of the MCF.
The Working Class Movement Library holds the archives of the organisation starting from 1972.
Trade Union Congress (TUC)
The TUC is a federation of trade unions in the UK which started in 1868. It gave direct support to unions in South Africa and was active in boycott campaigns nationally and internationally.
The TUC Library Collections at London Metropolitan University holds the archives of the organisation and contains pressure group and campaign movements’ materials, commonwealth, international affairs as well. It covers the period 1868 until 1993 and materials are deposited on an annual basis.
The Modern Record Centre at the University of Warwick holds the archives relating to South Africa and apartheid. It covers the period 1960-1970 and contains correspondence, boycott information, individual trade unions records and papers concerning the relationship with South Africa trade unions.
Resources
Archives Hub
The Archives Hub is a gateway to archives at universities and colleges in the UK.
Bodleian Library at Oxford University
The Bodleian Library of Commonwealth and African Studies at Rhodes House (commonly known as Rhodes House Library), was opened in 1929. It specialises in the history and current affairs - political, economic and social - of the Commonwealth and sub-Saharan Africa including the offshore islands.
Besides holding the archives of several British AAMs, it holds a wealth of materials of other organisations of interest.
http://www.ouls.ox.ac.uk/rhodes
Modern Records Centre
The Modern Records Centre at the University of Warwick has several collections containing anti-apartheid materials.
School of Oriental and African Studies
The SOAS at the University of London holds several collections containing anti-apartheid materials.
