Monthly Archives: May 2014

PW Botha, police spies, and the South African Embassy Picket Campaign 1984

Posted on May 30, 2014 by Gavin Brown

In June 1984, President PW Botha of South Africa was expected in Britain for talks with Margaret Thatcher. His tour of Europe that summer was intended to promote ‘constructive engagement’ with the apartheid regime (rather than sanctions) and stave of … Continue reading →

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Objecting to apartheid: disobedient objects at the V&A

Posted on May 16, 2014 by Gavin Brown

Gavin has written a guest post for the Disobedient Objects blog hosted by the V&A Museum. Disobedient Objects is an exhibition “about the art and design produced by grassroots social movements” which will open at the V&A at the end of July, running until … Continue reading →

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Marking South Africa House with ‘blood’ on election day 1987

Posted on May 6, 2014 by Gavin Brown

As South Africa celebrates twenty years since the end of apartheid, and prepares for tomorrow’s election, I want to remember a protest that responded to a very different South African election. On 6 May 1987, there was a white-only general … Continue reading →

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“I’m only doing my job”: a grandmother’s protest

Posted on May 1, 2014 by Gavin Brown

South African Freedom Day has long been celebrated on 26 June. The day commemorates the general strike and national day of protest that the African National Congress called on 26 June 1950. It also remembers the signing of the Freedom … Continue reading →

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