Political prisoners

In January 1982 Steven Kitson was detained by the South African security police when he travelled to South Africa to visit his father David Kitson in prison in Pretoria. David Kitson was serving a 20-year sentence for sabotage. Steven’s mother Norma Kitson and sister Amandla protested outside the South African Embassy in London demanding his release. Steven was threatened by the security police and eventually freed.

Students from King’s College, London blocked the entrance to the government-owned South African Airways at Oxford Circus on 10 February 1982 in protest against the death in detention of South African trade unionist Neil Aggett.

British trade unionists picketed South Africa House on May 11 1982 calling for the release of three leaders of the South African Agricultural Workers Union detained without trial. Left to right: Roger Ward from the draughtsmen’s union TASS, Muriel Turner from the clerical union ASTMS and ASTMS General Secretary, Clive Jenkins.

SATIS-ACTION was a scheme that alerted subscribers to new political trials and death sentences in South Africa and Namibia. Supporters were asked to send letters and telegrams to the South African government and to ask the British government to intervene.

Members of City of London Anti-Apartheid Group call for the release of South African political prisoner David Kitson. The Group launched a non-stop picket of South Africa House in August 1982. Kitson served 20 years imprisonment in South Africa and was released in 1984. In the picture on the right are David Kitson’s wife Norma Kitson and son Steve.

This pamphlet was published by SATIS (Southern Africa the Imprisoned Society) in 1982 as part of its campaign to ensure that long-term political prisoners were not forgotten. Walter Sisulu was elected as the ANC’s first full-time Secretary-General in 1949. He was charged in the 1956 Treason Trial and sentenced to life imprisonment with Nelson Mandela at the Rivonia trial in 1964. 

Leaflet publicising a march through the centre of Glasgow to call for the release of all South African and Namibian political prisoners.

Set of six postcards designed by Ken Sprague calling for the release of South African and Namibian political prisoners.