A new campaign calling for the release of the ANC leader, Nelson Mandela, and all political prisoners has been launched in South Africa. A rally which was planned to launch the campaign in Soweto on 4 September was banned by the government on 2 September. The Chief Magistrate of Johannesburg issued a notice saying he had 'reason to apprehend that the public peace would be seriously endangered'. The action was condemned by black leaders as an arbitrary move aimed at preventing the expression of black opinion. The publicity secretary of the Release Mandela Committee, Aubrey Mokoena, said the Committee was undaunted by the ban and plans were afoot to hold a mass rally at the Jabulani Amphitheatre on 23 October. The Committee is establishing Release Mandela Committees throughout the Transvaal and these will be linked up with committees in other provinces. Besides the setting up of committees, existing organisations will also be utilised in implementing the campaign's programme of action. These organisations will be used for collecting signatures for the petition. When the collection of signatures is completed it will be added to those collected in Britain and the United States and sent to the United Nations. Mandela has been nominated for the chancellship of the University of Natal. The university has received a letter from Mandela accepting the nomination. Students at the Pietermaritzburg campus nominated the author Alan Paton for the position after they had been told that Mandela would not accept the nomination. After Winnie Mandela had visited her husband at Pollsmoor Prison, Mandela's letter accepting the nomination was received by the university. Alan Paton withdrew his nomination when it became clear that Mandela would accept.
Issue 49 · article
Release Mandela Campaign
Launch of a new campaign for the release of Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners.
