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South Africa

This collection contains a variety of materials which focus on the anti-apartheid movement both within and outside of South Africa. Themes and voices in this collection range from: the Pan African Congress, The Black Consciousness Movement, the US student movement, external interventions against apartheid, the labor movement within South Africa, and the Springbok 5.

Sources produced by Black South Africans and anti-apartheid groups within South Africa sought to spread the word about the realities of apartheid and actions that were taking place on the ground in South Africa. The materials created by groups outside of the region focus on external interventions in support of apartheid (mercenaries, Shell Oil, etc) and how people could oppose Apartheid despite ones distance from South Africa.

Materials included in this collection are: South African newspaper clippings, newsletters, speeches, statements and political programs from South African anti-apartheid groups, South African labor union political reports, flyers for anti-apartheid protests from United States student groups, and monographs focusing on multinational corporations and their support of apartheid.

Highlighted Periodicals:

Workteam: The Worker’s Co-op Magazine is a magazine for production co-operatives throughout Southern Africa. All articles deal in some way with the daily work and learning of the workers’ co-operative movement. We will keep questioning the direction of the movement and its methods of organization in light of experience. Periodical was published in Gaborone, Botswana. Two issues, 1989-1990.

ANC News Briefing: Press cuttings and news clippings from news sources in South Africa as well as based internationally. Nine issues, 1986-1990.

Learn and Teach: Learn and Teach Publications was published in Johannesburg, South Africa. Two issues, both from 1990.

ERASER (Alternative Youth Magazine): ERASE sees its objective as getting people to identify, confront and challenge the divisive ideologies of Racism and Sexism through running workshops, producing alternative media and by developing and availing resources to those interested in the project’s work. ERASE is not affiliated to any political organization and will service any structure which is fighting Racism and Sexism. Three issues, 1991-1992.

SPEAK: A periodical by and for women, SPEAK was published in Johannesburg, South Africa. Eighteen issues, 1989-1993.

Work in Progress: An independent analytical journal has provided incisive political and economic commentary and information on Southern African developments and opposition to Apartheid. Three issues, all from 1990.

Upfront: An independent publication aimed at providing informative and analytical articles reflecting the exciting and changing times in South Africa. One issue, from 1989.

Azanian Labour Journal: Azanian Labour Journal was created to keep you informed of events and currents in the labour movement including those which other publications shy away from. Four issues, 1990-1992. 

Azanian News: The official organ of the Pan-African Congress. Three issues, 1977-1983.

Mayibuye: Journal of the African National Congress (ANC). Mayibuye, a Zulu term meaning “bringing back what was lost” was the journal of the ANC from 1990-1998. 10 issues, 1990-1993.  

SeChaba: Official organ of the African National Congress. SeChaba was the ANC official periodical during the time the organization was banned in South Africa (1967-1990). SeChaba was published in London, England. Four issues, 1972-1987.

Documents

AZAPO and conditions in Southern Africa AZAPO and conditions in Southern Africa
Call Number: AFR 081Format: Cass A & BCollection: South Africa
Program on AZAPO and the state of Southern Africa. AZAPO chairman Pokela, SWAPO representative, and AZAPO representative Nick Tucker speak. AZAPO (Azanian People’s Organization) chairman Pokela speaks about the lack of knowledge people in the United States and Europe have about the struggles in Azania. He also speaks about how the native African people lost their land and their rights to the white imperialists. He says that in order for Africans to fight back, they must remove their inferiority complexes (as Robert Sobukwe, former president of the PAC (Pan African Congress), suggests). He speaks about the injustices of the Pass Laws in South Africa, and encourages blacks to go to the prisons and challenge the police to arrest them. Next, a woman representative of SWAPO (South West African People’s Organization - dedicated to opposing injustice in Southern Africa) speaks about the problems of violence in South Africa, and also about the bloody war going on in Namibia. She speaks about the policy of “Destabilization” that was designed by the white Nationalists, and about the Western media’s perception, pressure, and influence on events in South Africa. Lastly, Nick Tucker of AZAPO speaks about AZAPO and the current events and conditions in Southern Africa, mourning the large number of murders in the area. He quotes Amilcar Cabral, “We should tell no lies and claim no easy victory”. Tucker speaks about two theories that determine revolutions: 1) To have a revolution, one must have a revolutionary theory and convey it to the masses. 2) Continued economic depression will heighten revolutionary anarchy and the masses will want to organize and revolt. He says that AZAPO is trying to do the former strategy. Lastly, Tucker speaks about the formation of black worker’s unions - that they form under Black Consciousness because black men can truly understand the hardships and oppression of other blacks, and can then translate that idea to whites.