Pan Africanist Congress of Azania
London Mission

Records, 1969-1994 (Inclusive), 1979-1992 (Bulk)

University of Fort Hare, National Heritage Cultural Studies Centre


EXTENT: 50 boxes (5 linear meters)

ACQUISITION: Records received by the University of Fort Hare in 1994.

ACCESS: Open pending review by the PAC.

PHOTOGRAPHS: Photographs are located throughout the records.

VISUAL MATERIAL: Videotapes are incorporated in the PAC Audio Visual Materials group. See separate finding aid for description.

PRINTED MATERIAL: Printed serials are incorporated in the PAC Publications group. See separate finding aid for description.

COPYRIGHT: Copyright retained by the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania.

PROCESSED BY: Lisa Robinson, May 1998

History

Members of the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania began operating in London to gather support for PAC liberation activities soon after the PAC was banned from South Africa in 1960. An office was opened in 1962 that functioned independently and occasionally in conflict with the external headquarters in Maseru, Lesotho. Tensions between the London office, the external headquarters and other external missions continued throughout the existence of the PAC in exile.

The records from the London mission in this collection reveal that Winston L. Mvusi was named Acting Chief Representative in 1977 by the PAC headquarters in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. On 1 May 1978, Ngila Michael Muendane was appointed "Chief Representative in the United Kingdom and the E.E.C. Countries" and "authorised to raise funds in the interests of the struggle for freedom and self-determination." There are some signs of shared leadership in the PAC London mission for in 1979 both Muendane and Dipheko Abel Chiloane signed correspondence as Chief Representative of the London mission. In 1982, however, Muendane resigned as Chief Representative, although he continued working at the London mission. His resignation was in response to conflicts over the leadership of the PAC taking place in Tanzania. The new Chief Representative of the London mission from 1982 until 1985 was Zolile Hamilton Keke, although Muendane continued as Acting Chief Representative for at least one year.

In 1985 the mission's name was changed to Mission to the United Kingdom and Ireland. That year Vusumji (Vusi) Nomadolo was named the new Chief Representative. Zolile Hamilton Keke remained as Acting Chief Representative, and Makoto Bolofo was the mission's Secretary. In 1986-87 there is again evidence of shared leadership with both Nomadolo and Roy Mdudu acting as Chief Representative of the London mission.

This evidence of shared leadership reflects the ideological struggles within PAC in general and disagreements over how much direct authority PAC headquarters should have over its overseas missions. An example of the on-going tensions over the London mission's resistance to the authority of the external headquarters in Tanzania is referred to in correspondence from 1985 as "The Crisis in London" (see PAC London folder, Administrative Division, PAC Tanzania Collection).

In 1987 the mission's name was again changed to Mission to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Nomadolo was apparently removed from office by the PAC headquarters and Nyembezi Rodwell Mzotane was named Acting Chief Representative. Nonqokose Mngaza was the mission's Secretary during that year, and Rodney Funeka began his term as the mission's Deputy Representative, serving until 1989.

In 1989, the mission's name was changed to the Mission to the United Kingdom, Representative of Ireland and the Benelux Countries, and Mzotane was named Chief Representative, a post he held until 1990. Throughout 1989 and 1990 both Muendane and Mzotane acted as the Chief Representative. A leadership crisis arose again in 1990-1991 when some members of the PAC missions in London and New York formed the so-called "Sobukwe Forum" calling for the reinstatement of PAC leaders who had been expelled from the party. In 1990, Muendane, Mzotane, and Vuyani Mngaza all acted as the Chief Representative, while Rodney Funeka became the Assistant Chief Representative, but after 1990 only Vuyani Mngaza was the Chief Representative.

For a general history of the Pan Africanist Congress, please see the finding aid for the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania Collection.

Scope and Content

There are six series in the London mission record group: Administration, Correspondence, Media, PAC Tanzania, Topical, and United Nations Documents.

The Administration series contains documents produced from 1977 thorugh 1993 in the course of the daily administration of the PAC United Kingdom mission, especially those concerning the finance of the mission. This series also includes the daily appointment diaries for 1986, 1989, and 1992, agendas and notes from Executive Committee meetings, and lists of members and contacts.

The Correspondence series includes both incoming and outgoing correspondence from 1971 through 1993. It is divided into subject files for communications with individuals, organizations, and other overseas PAC missions, and general correspondence, arranged chronologically by year. This series documents the close connections made by the PAC London mission with international anti-apartheid organizations and foreign governments, and the extensive efforts made by PAC London mission to secure funding for their liberation activities.

The Media series contains materials gathered by the London mission from 1973 through 1993, such as newsletters from other organizations, selected runs of some newspapers, and an extensive collection of newspaper cuttings. These materials document the activities of the London mission and the PAC regarding liberation and anti-apartheid efforts, and conditions in South Africa. Additionally, nine u-matic videotapes received with the London mission records are grouped with other audio and video materials from other PAC missions. Eight of these videos were made during the Soweto Uprising 13th Anniversary Rally and National Heroes Day held on 6 July 1989 in London. These videotapes are described in detail in the separate finding aid for the AudioVisual recordings.

The PAC Tanzania series contains documents received by the London mission from PAC external headquarters in Dar es Salaam from 1969 through 1993, including official PAC statements and official communications. There is also biographical material on some of the leaders of PAC, and publications from PAC headquarters.

The Topical Files series contains materials gathered by the London mission from 1976 through 1994 on a variety of subjects and from a variety of organizations, arranged alphabetically. This series includes material on the history of the Pan Africanist Congress and South Africa, as well as six folders on women's activities and issues.

The United Nations Documents series contains documents issued by the United Nations and received by the London mission from 1978 through 1993, arranged chronologically. Most of these documents are from the United Nations Centre Against Apartheid.

Processing Notes

The initial sorting was done in 1994 when these materials arrived at the University of Fort Hare. This sorting established some of the series and some of the specific folder headings. In 1998, further processing resulted in the reduction of the number of series and the development of additional subseries and folder headings. The materials were arranged at the folder level for the most part. Within series, items are arranged either chronologically or by subject where most appropriate. The exception is the Correspondence series where the general correspondence is filed chronologically and other correspondence is filed by the name of the recipient.

The newspaper cuttings in the Media series and the PAC Tanzania series have received the least amount of arrangement, while the Correspondence series and the Topical files have had the most detailed arrangement. Photographs have been filed with the documents, but placed in separate folders under appropriate subject headings. Duplicates of materials were removed and separated from the files.

Box Lists

Box 1

Administration

Box 2

Box 3

Box 4

Box 5

Box 6

Box 7

Correspondence

Box 8

Box 9

Box 10

Box 11

Box 12

Box 13

Box 14

Box 15

Box 16

Box 17

Media

Box 18

Box 19