1980s

Anti-apartheid protesters held a vigil outside South Africa House on 29 January 1982, the first anniversary of a raid by the South African Defence Force on Matola, Mozambique. Twelve ANC members were killed in the raid. The attack was part of a pattern of South African armed incursions into the front-line states that carried on through the 1980s.

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.

Trade union organiser Neil Aggett died in detention on 5 February 1982. The police claimed that he committed suicide but at a second High Court hearing held after a long campaign, the South African High Court ruled in 2022 that he was murdered by South African security police. In the photo outside South Africa House are Ron Todd, General Secretary of the transport workers union, Labour MP Alf Dubbs and (right) ANC London representative Ruth Mompati.

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.

The AAM’s ‘Southern Africa: the Time to Choose’ conference, 11–13 March 1982, was its most ambitious initiative to date. The Vice President of Nigeria, Dr Alex Ekwueme, gave the keynote address and the leaders of the Labour and Liberal Parties and the Chair of the TUC International Committee were among the speakers from Britain. The liberation movements were represented by ANC General Secretary Alfred Nzo and SWAPO Chairman David Meroro. The conference was attended by church representatives, trade unionists, local authorities and delegates from women’s, youth and student organisations.

The AAM’s ‘Southern Africa: the Time to Choose’ conference, 11–13 March 1982, was its most ambitious initiative to date. The Vice President of Nigeria, Dr Alex Ekwueme, gave the keynote address and the leaders of the Labour and Liberal Parties and the Chair of the TUC International Committee were among the speakers from Britain. The liberation movements were represented by ANC General Secretary Alfred Nzo and SWAPO Chairman David Meroro. The conference was attended by church representatives, trade unionists, local authorities and women’s, youth and student organisations. Left to right: Dr Alex Ekwueme, Abdul Minty, Bob Hughes MP and Archbishop Trevor Huddleston.

Labour Party leader Michael Foot speaking at the  AAM’s ‘Southern Africa: the Time to Choose’ conference in March 1982. The conference was attended by church representatives, trade unionists, local authorities and women’s, youth and student organisations. 

The AAM’s ‘Southern Africa: the Time to Choose’ conference, 11–13 March 1982, was its most ambitious initiative to date. The Vice President of Nigeria, Dr Alex Ekwueme, gave the keynote address and the leaders of the Labour and Liberal Parties, the Chair of the TUC International Committee and ANC and SWAPO representatives were among the speakers. The conference was attended by church representatives, trade unionists, local authorities and delegates from women’s, youth and student organisations. This Declaration was widely distributed and presented to Foreign Secretary Lord Carrington by the AAM’s President, Bishop Trevor Huddleston, and Hon. Secretary, Abdul Minty, the day after the conference.