Timeline

Call for UDF; commission appointed; steering committee set up

Transvaal and Natal regions launched

Eastern Cape and Border committees set up

UDF National launched

UDF Border region launched

Million Signature campaign launched

West Coast UDF and Southern Cape region launched

Anti-tricameral parliament campaign launched

UDF leaders arrested – six UDF Natal and Natal Indian Congress leaders sought refuge in British consulate

Regime held elections for tricameral parliament amid massive boycott

Vaal erupted over rent boycotts; four local authority councillors killed

UDF and ECC held “Troops Out” campaign

UDF organised Transvaal stayaway to protest troops in townships

UDF leaders charged with treason in Durban; formation of the Federation of Transvaal Women as a UDF affiliate

UDF led Black Christmas campaign

Senator Edward Kennedy visited South Africa

International Year of the Youth

At a rally to celebrate Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s winning of the Nobel peace prize, Zindzi Mandela read Mandela’s response to the government’s offer to release detainees

UDF offices raided countrywide; over 100 arrested; leaders charged together with previous six treason trialists in the Pietermaritzburg Treason Trial

Langa, Uitenhage massacre

Second UDF National General Council in Azaadville

Popo Molefe and Terror Lekota detained

Gaborone raid; Pebco Three went missing

Together with 20 others, Molefe and Lekota charged with treason in the Delmas Treason Trial

Matthew Goniwe, Fort Calata, Sicelo Mhlauli and Sparrow Mkhonto (the Cradock Four) found murdered

30th anniversary of the Freedom Charter

Mass funeral for the Cradock Four

State President PW Botha declared a State of Emergency in 36 magisterial districts; 136 UDF officials known to be detained

Victoria Mxenge murdered

Inkatha attacks intensified; Cosas banned

Communities engaged in consumer boycotts to protest black local authorities and national repression; UDF launched “Forward to People’s Power” campaign

Cosatu launched

National Education Crisis Committee (NECC) formed

Murphy Morobe detained; released March 7

Six Day War in Alexandra

Northern Transvaal region UDF launched

State of Emergency lifted

UDF with Cosatu and other organisations organised national stayaway

Campaign against public safety bill

UDF “Call to Whites” campaign

National State of Emergency declared

Murphy Morobe spoke on UDF under the State of Emergency

UDF launched “Unban the ANC” campaign

White City, Soweto massacre

UDF declared affected organisation

Campaign for “National United Action” (Cosatu, UDF, NECC, SACC)

“Christmas against the Emergency” campaign

The theme for the UDF for 1987 was “Forward to People’s Power”

Valli Moosa detained and released on April 12

UDF Women’s Congress formed

Cosatu headquarters bombed

National action and protest

Day of national protest against whites-only elections

UDF National Working Committee –  200 delegates from nine regions: STvl, NTvl, ETvl, ECape, WCape, NCape, Natal, OFS, Border; Anti-Bop campaign

Sayco “Save the Patriots” campaign

Murphy Morobe and Valli Moosa detained (22 UDF NEC members in detention)

“Friends of UDF” launched

Cosatu union National Union of Mineworkers held strike to demand living wage

UDF adopted the Freedom Charter

UDF called for boycott of black local authorities

Govan Mbeki released

UDF and 16 organisations and 18 individuals restricted; Cosatu restricted from doing political work

Day of action

Cape Democrats launched

“National peaceful action” called by Cosatu supported by UDF and churches

Security police bombed Khotso House, national headquarters of the UDF

Murphy Morobe, Valli Moosa and Vusi Khanyile escaped from prison and took refuge at the US Consulate, Kine Centre, Johannesburg

Anti-municipal elections campaign

MDM statement on Winnie Mandela

David Webster assassinated

Start of defiance campaign against bannings, restrictions and segregation of hospitals and other facilities

Walter Sisulu and other Rivonia trialists released, National Reception Committee formed

Conference for a Democratic Future (CDF)

ANC and 72 other organisations unbanned; restriction on UDF lifted

Nelson Mandela released

UDF-Cosatu national women’s workshop

First meeting between ANC and apartheid government

Week of “National Mass Action” against violence in Natal

Bantustan conference

Dissolution of UDF