Browse the AAM Archive

The March issue featured the spread of guerrilla warfare in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Sam Ramsamy described the impact of the international sports boycott of South Africa. A round-up on political prisoners featured Denis Goldberg, sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964. AA News reported on continuing unrest among Durban workers. Antonio de Figueiredo exposed the split in the Catholic church on Portuguese colonialism and Paul Ostreicher discussed the response of the Christian churches to apartheid and racism in Southern Africa.

Sports Minister Denis Howell had asked the British rugby establishment to call off its  British Lions rugby tour of South Africa, reported this issue. It featured the launch of the AAM’s ‘No Collaboration’ campaign and the new Labour Government’s appointment of AAM supporters as key ministers. It called for an end to the hanging of Zimbabwean freedom fighters. Alan Brooks reported on the findings of a Parliamentary Committee on the operations of British companies in South Africa. A feature on South African political prisoners featured Ahmed Kathrada.

The May issue featured protests within South Africa against the British Lions rugby tour. It carried a first-hand report by a ZANU fighter on the guerrilla war in Zimbabwe. It announced the formation of The Imprisoned Society (SATIS) a coalition set up to campaign for the release of political prisoners. A centrespread reported on the brutal flogging of SWAPO supporters in northern Namibia. A special feature explained how the gold price boom was fuelling the apartheid economy.

The new Labour Government must fulfil Labour’s pledges on the isolation of South Africa, argued AA News. It reported on country-wide action in the AAM’s ‘No Collaboration’ campaign and on a TUC conference to discuss the report of its delegation to South Africa. It examined the prospects for the liberation of Portugal’s African colonies following the overthrow of the Caetano dictatorship. It carried more first-hand reports of the spreading guerrilla war in Zimbabwe.

A picture spread featured the AAM’s Freedom Convention held in London’s Camden Lock in 30 June, following a conference on Southern Africa for the British labour movement. The issue reported on a NUSAS (National Union of South African Students) campaign for the release of political prisoners and lack of medical treatment for life prisoner Bram Fischer. On Zimbabwe, it reported on another attempt to impose a sell-out agreement. Brian Bunting showed how the introduction of television to South Africa would be used to promote apartheid and Vella Pillay showed how the apartheid economy was backed by international banks.

‘Labour must stand by its pledges’, declared this issue. It reported on Vorster’s crackdown against SWAPO in Namibia and on the forced removal of whole villages in Zimbabwe. Vella Pillay exposed how international oil majors were circumventing the Arab oil boycott of South Africa. Paul Fauvet analysed the difficult path ahead for the liberation movements of the Portuguese colonies in moving to independence. Jean Middleton examined the manpower shortage faced by the South African Defence Force.

The October issue attacked the Labour Government’s decision to take part in naval manoeuvres with South Africa and called for an end to the Simonstown Agreement. It celebrated the imminent independence of Mozambique and Guinea Bissau. Hugh Bayley reviewed the NUS-AAM student campaign to pressure British universities to disinvest from South Africa. In a special feature, AA News reported on the growth of independent unions in South Africa. Leading trade unionists critiqued the report of the TUC’s South African delegation. 

This issue called for an end to all military links with South Africa. It reported on a recent NUS-AAM student network conference and on action by students in Manchester, Bristol and Oxford. Labour MPs Jo Richardson, Ioan Evans and Robert Hughes argued the Labour Government must implement Labour Party policy on South Africa and Namibia. John Lawrence examined the activities of the pro-apartheid Club of Ten. A centrespread warned that South Africa was mobilising against newly independent Mozambique.