Students

ANC representative Ruth Mompati spoke at the renaming of Sheffield Polytechnic Student Union building as the Nelson Mandela Building. Sheffield Polytechnic was one of many student unions to rename buildings after Nelson Mandela in the 1980s.

Leaflet advertising an Anti-Apartheid Week of meetings and film shows on South Africa and Namibia organised by students at Leeds University in February 1984.

In August 1984 the South African government detained the leaders of the United Democratic Front (UDF). The UDF organised a boycott of the segregated elections held under South Africa’s new constitution. After being temporarily freed, six of the detainees took refuge in the British consulate in Durban. Students in Britain picketed the South African embassy to demand safe passage for the detainees.

Leeds City Council, local trade unions, and Leeds City and University AA Groups came together to organise a week of anti-apartheid events in October 1984. Activities included a vigil for political prisoners, collection of material aid, film shows and fundraising concerts, and an activists conference.

The National Student Convention held in November 1984 was the final event in a five-week speaking tour of British colleges by representatives of the ANC (African National Congress) and SWAPO (South West Africa People’s Organisation). It was attended by over 200 students.

Students played a big part in the campaign to force Barclays Bank to withdraw from South Africa. This poster was displayed in student unions to persuade students not to bank with Barclays. By the mid-1980s Barclays share of student accounts had fallen to 17 per cent and this was a big factor in the bank’s decision to withdraw from South Africa in 1986.

This debate at the Oxford Union featuring Bantustan chief Gatsha Buthelezi, South African Cabinet minister Allan Hendrickse and South African Ambassador Denis Worrall was cancelled after protests from Oxford students. Instead, students held a torchlight march through Oxford. They heard Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa of the United Democratic Front call for the unconditional release of all South African political prisoners.

Poster publicising a student demonstration in Trafalgar Square on 19 October 1985. Hundreds of students staged a sit-down protest in front of the South African Embassy as part of a national week of student anti-apartheid action. More than 300 colleges all over the country took part in the week. Several Barclays branches were occupied by demonstrators and the NUS renamed its north London headquarters Nelson Mandela House.