Compiled and edited by:
E.S. Reddy
Former Director of the
United Nations Centre against Apartheid
From its inception in 1963, the Special Committee against Apartheid became the main instrument of the United Nations for promoting and monitoring a comprehensive programme of action against apartheid. It made a significant contribution to informing world opinion of the situation in South Africa, and promoting action by the United Nations bodies and agencies, Governments, organisations and individuals for the elimination of apartheid and enabling the South African people to establish a non-racial democratic society.
Oliver Tambo, President of the ANC, commending the Special Committee in 1982, said it "has been a fighting weapon of the people of South Africa... which has taken the kind of initiatives through which the international community is virtually united today in support of the struggle of the people of South Africa."
The Committee was established by the General Assembly - under resolution 1761 (XVII) of November 6, 1962 - to keep the racial policies of the South African Government under review throughout the year. The Western Powers declined to join the Committee -the first Committee that they boycotted - and the President appointed the following eleven members: Algeria, Costa Rica, Ghana, Guinea, Haiti, Hungary, Malaya (later Malaysia), Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines and Somalia.(1)
It began its work in April 1963.
The Committee always elected the ambassador of an African member as its Chairman. The successive Chairmen were:
Diallo Telli (Guinea), 1963-1964
Achkar Marof (Guinea) (1964-1968)
Abdulrahim Abby Farah (Somalia), 1969-1972
Edwin Ogebe Ogbu (Nigeria), 1972-1975
Madame Jeanne Martin Cisse (Guinea), 1975-1976
Leslie O. Harriman (Nigeria), 1976-1979
B. Akporode Clark (Nigeria), 1979-1981
Alhaji Yusuff Maitama-Sule (Nigeria), 1981-1983
Major-General J.N. Garba (1984-1990)
Ibrahim A. Gambari (Nigeria), 1990-1994
Refusing to be discouraged by the attitude of the Western Powers, the Committee was able to take advantage of its composition to act with unanimity as a dynamic body focussing on action rather than mere debates and reports.
The mandate of the Committee was soon expanded to cover the promotion of an international campaign against apartheid under the auspices of the United Nations.
It followed the developments in South Africa and presented annual and special reports to the General Assembly and Security with recommendations for action. Most of the decisions of the latter have been based on the proposals of the Special Committee.
Equally important was the constant activity of the Special Committee in promoting action by Governments and organisations.
Its primary concern was to press for effective international sanctions against the South African regime, arrange assistance to the victims of apartheid and to the liberation movements; and to ensure constant publicity to the inhumanity of apartheid and the resistance of the people in order to secure widest support for action.
It sent missions to United Nations agencies, governments and other organisations to promote action to isolate the racist regime and assist the oppressed people.
It initiated, or assisted anti-apartheid movements and other bodies to organise, public campaigns - e.g. for arms and oil embargoes against South Africa; for sports, cultural and consumer boycotts of South Africa and other "people's sanctions"; against loans to or investments in South Africa; and for the release of political prisoners in South Africa.
It organised scores of conferences, seminars, hearings and other events around the world to promote concerted action by governments and the public.
It promoted world-wide observance of international days as a means to demonstrate solidarity with the struggle of the people in South Africa: International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (Sharpeville Day), 21 March; International Day of Solidarity with the Struggling People of South Africa (Soweto Day), 16 June; International Day of Solidarity with the Struggle of Women of South Africa and Namibia, 9 August; and Day of Solidarity with South African Political Prisoners, 11 October
The Committee worked in close consultation with the Organisation of African Unity and the South African liberation movements (ANC and PAC) which were represented at its meetings. It maintained regular contact with anti-apartheid movements around the world and numerous public organisations committed to action against apartheid.
The initiatives of the Special Committee helped to ensure that the apartheid regime and its supporters were more and more isolated in the international community. Its appeals and proposals resulted in contributions of hundreds of millions of dollars by governments for assistance to the political prisoners and their families in South Africa and to South African refugees, as well as scholarships. Direct assistance was provided to the liberation movement, and associated groups like the United Democratic Front, by many governments and organisations in all regions of the world.
This compilation contains selected statements, appeals, messages and other communications by the Special Committee and its successive Chairmen from the inception of the committee in 1963 to 1984. They reflect the response of the United Nations to the developments in South Africa and the efforts of the Special Committee to mobilise support to the liberation struggle.
I was responsible, from 1963 to 1984, for providing services to the Special Committee - including administration of assistance to South Africans and publicity against apartheid - first as Principal Secretary of the Committee and later as Director of the Centre against Apartheid. In that capacity, I had the privilege of preparing drafts of most of the statements here.
I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the members of the Special Committee and its Chairmen for their dedication to the struggle against apartheid - and to the great liberation movement and its leaders who inspired all of us.
E.S. Reddy
New York
January 1998
COMMUNIQUE OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON DEATH SENTENCES IN SOUTH AFRICA, OCTOBER 9, 1964
APPEAL BY THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO MEMBER STATES FOR AID TO FAMILIES OF PERSONS PERSECUTED BY SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT FOR OPPOSITION TO APARTHEID, OCTOBER 26, 1964
COMMUNIQUE OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE CONCERNING FURTHER DEATH SENTENCES IN SOUTH AFRICA, MARCH 9, 1965
LETTER BY THE CHAIRMAN - ACHKAR MAROF (GUINEA) - TO U THANT, SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS, ON ILL-TREATMENT OF PRISONERS IN SOUTH AFRICA, FEBRUARY 3, 1967
APPEAL BY THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE FOR THE COMMEMORATION OF INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION (21 MARCH), JANUARY 12, 1968
LETTER BY THE CHAIRMAN - ACHKAR MAROF (GUINEA) - TO ANTI-APARTHEID MOVEMENTS AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS, JANUARY 12, 1968
STATEMENT BY THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE CALLING FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF MRS. WINNIE MANDELA AND 21 OTHER AFRICANS REARRESTED AFTER TRIAL IN SOUTH AFRICA, FEBRUARY 25, 1970
COMMUNIQUE BY THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE CONCERNING BRITISH DECISION ON ARMS SALE TO SOUTH AFRICA, FEBRUARY 24, 1971
CLOSING STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - ABDULRAHIM ABBY FARAH (SOMALIA) - AT THE FINAL MEETING OF A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE, MARCH 24, 1971
COMMUNIQUE BY THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE EXPRESSING INDIGNATION AT CONVICTION OF DEAN FFRENCH-BEYTAGH, NOVEMBER 1, 1971
COMMUNIQUE BY THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON REPRESSION OF SOUTH AFRICAN STUDENTS, JUNE 12, 1972
LETTER BY CHAIRMAN - ABDULRAHIM ABBY FARAH (SOMALIA) - TO MRS. WINNIE MANDELA, DECEMBER 13, 1972
LETTERS BY CHAIRMAN - ABDULRAHIM ABBY FARAH (SOMALIA) - CONCERNING PROTECTION FOR MRS. WINNIE MANDELA, MARCH 9, 1973
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - EDWIN OGEBE OGBU (NIGERIA) - ON SENTENCES UNDER TERRORISM ACT, JUNE 20, 1973
DECLARATION BY THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL PRISONERS IN SOUTH AFRICA, AUGUST 17, 1973
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - EDWIN OGEBE OGBU (NIGERIA) - ON DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA AND PORTUGAL, MAY 7, 1974
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - EDWIN OGEBE OGBU (NIGERIA) - CONDEMNING IMPRISONMENT OF MRS. WINNIE MANDELA, OCTOBER 2, 1974
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - EDWIN OGEBE OGBU (NIGERIA) - COMMENDING INDIA FOR BOYCOTT OF APARTHEID TENNIS TEAM, OCTOBER 7, 1974
MESSAGE BY THE CHAIRMAN - EDWIN OGEBE OGBU (NIGERIA) - TO THE ANTI-APARTHEID MOVEMENT, LONDON, NOVEMBER 7, 1974
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - EDWIN OGEBE OGBU (NIGERIA) - ON MANOEUVRES OF SOUTH AFRICA, NOVEMBER 8, 1974
MESSAGE BY THE CHAIRMAN - EDWIN OGEBE OGBU (NIGERIA) - TO COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, JOHANNESBURG, DECEMBER 2, 1974
APPEALS BY THE CHAIRMAN - EDWIN OGEBE OGBU (NIGERIA) - FOR RELEASE OF ABRAM FISCHER, IMPRISONED AFRIKANER JURIST, DECEMBER 17, 1974
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - MME. JEANNE MARTIN CISSE (GUINEA) - AT MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE, JANUARY 21, 1976
STATEMENT BY THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON MILITARY OPERATIONS BY SOUTH AFRICA IN ANGOLA AND NAMIBIA, JANUARY 23, 1976
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - MME. JEANNE MARTIN CISSE (GUINEA) - ON RELATIONS BETWEEN SOUTH AFRICA AND ISRAEL, APRIL 7, 1976
APPEAL BY THE CHAIRMAN - LESLIE O. HARRIMAN (NIGERIA) - FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO SAN-ROC, JUNE 10, 1976
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - LESLIE O. HARRIMAN (NIGERIA) - COMMENDING DECISION BY TANZANIA NOT TO TAKE PART IN MONTREAL OLYMPICS, JULY 12, 1976
LETTER ADDRESSED TO ALL UNITED NATIONS MEMBER STATES BY THE CHAIRMAN - LESLIE O. HARRIMAN (NIGERIA) - STRESSING NEED FOR INCREASED AID TO OPPRESSED PEOPLE OF SOUTH AFRICA, SEPTEMBER 9, 1976
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - LESLIE O. HARRIMAN (NIGERIA) - REQUESTING ALL STATES TO REFRAIN FROM EXTENDING ANY FORM OF RECOGNITION TO TRANSKEI, SEPTEMBER 21, 1976
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - LESLIE O. HARRIMAN (NIGERIA) - ON THE SENTENCING OF MR. AND MRS. RABKIN AND MR. CRONIN, SEPTEMBER 30, 1976
MESSAGE BY THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO POLITICAL PRISONERS IN SOUTH AFRICA, OCTOBER 11, 1976
MESSAGE BY THE CHAIRMAN - LESLIE O. HARRIMAN (NIGERIA) - TO INAUGURAL MEETING OF LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN COMMITTEE AGAINST APARTHEID, NOVEMBER 26, 1976
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - LESLIE O. HARRIMAN (NIGERIA) - ON SOUTH AFRICA'S AGGRESSION AGAINST ANGOLA, FEBRUARY 24, 1977
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - LESLIE O. HARRIMAN (NIGERIA) - CONCERNING SOUTH AFRICA'S MILITARY BUDGET, MARCH 3, 1977
MESSAGE BY THE CHAIRMAN - LESLIE O. HARRIMAN (NIGERIA) - TO THE BRITISH ANTI-APARTHEID MOVEMENT, MARCH 21, 1977
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - LESLIE O. HARRIMAN (NIGERIA) - ON THE DEATH OF STEVEN BIKO, SEPTEMBER 13, 1977
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - LESLIE O. HARRIMAN (NIGERIA) - ON ARRESTS IN SOUTH AFRICA, OCTOBER 19, 1977
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - LESLIE O. HARRIMAN (NIGERIA) - ON NEW SOUTH AFRICAN REGULATIONS, NOVEMBER 14, 1977
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - LESLIE O. HARRIMAN (NIGERIA) - ON WITHDRAWAL OF POLAROID CORPORATION FROM SOUTH AFRICA, NOVEMBER 23, 1977
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - LESLIE O. HARRIMAN (NIGERIA) - CONCERNING INQUEST OVER DEATH OF STEVE BIKO, DECEMBER 5, 1977
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - LESLIE O. HARRIMAN (NIGERIA) - ON SO-CALLED "INDEPENDENCE" OF BOPHUTHATSWANA, DECEMBER 6, 1977
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - LESLIE O. HARRIMAN (NIGERIA) - URGING TRADE UNIONS AND OTHERS TO REPORT BREACHES OF ARMS EMBARGO, DECEMBER 15, 1977
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - LESLIE O. HARRIMAN (NIGERIA) - CONCERNING GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION ON INVESTMENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA, DECEMBER 19, 1977
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - LESLIE O. HARRIMAN (NIGERIA) - FOR UNITED NATIONS RADIO PROGRAMME TO SOUTH AFRICA, MARCH 1, 1978
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - LESLIE O. HARRIMAN (NIGERIA) - CALLING FOR COMPLETE CESSATION OF ALL INVESTMENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA, MARCH 13, 1978
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - LESLIE O. HARRIMAN (NIGERIA) - WELCOMING MESSAGE FROM INTERNATIONAL POLICE OFFICERS' GROUP, MARCH 22, 1978
STATEMENT BY THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE REGARDING NIGERIA'S ACTION AGAINST BARCLAYS BANK, APRIL 4, 1978
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - LESLIE O. HARRIMAN (NIGERIA) - ON AFRICA LIBERATION DAY, MAY 25, 1978
APPEAL BY THE CHAIRMAN - LESLIE O. HARRIMAN (NIGERIA) - FOR OBSERVANCE OF SIXTIETH BIRTHDAY OF NELSON MANDELA (JULY 18, 1978), MAY 31, 1978
TELEGRAM BY LESLIE O. HARRIMAN (NIGERIA), CHAIRMAN OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE, TO NELSON MANDELA IN CONNECTION WITH HIS SIXTIETH BIRTHDAY, JULY 17, 1978
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - LESLIE O. HARRIMAN (NIGERIA) - CONDEMNING THE DEATH SENTENCE IMPOSED ON SOLOMON MAHLANGU, JULY 19, 1978
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - LESLIE O. HARRIMAN (NIGERIA) - CONCERNING VISIT OF SOUTH AFRICAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO PARAGUAY, AUGUST 23, 1978
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - LESLIE O. HARRIMAN (NIGERIA) - COMMENDING DECISIONS OF NORDIC FOREIGN MINISTERS FOR FURTHER ACTION TO END THE APARTHEID SYSTEM, SEPTEMBER 8, 1978
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - LESLIE O. HARRIMAN (NIGERIA) - CONCERNING OBSERVANCE BY AMERICAN CITIES OF ANTI-APARTHEID DAY, OCTOBER 10, 1978
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - LESLIE O. HARRIMAN (NIGERIA) - ON DEMOLITION OF CROSSROADS, NOVEMBER 20, 1978
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - LESLIE O. HARRIMAN (NIGERIA) - ON A LOAN TO SOUTH AFRICA BY EUROPEAN BANKS, DECEMBER 7, 1978
STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN OF UN SPECIAL COMMITTEE AGAINST APARTHEID, LESLIE O. HARRIMAN, ON THE EXECUTION OF SOLOMON MAHLANGU, APRIL 6, 1979
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - B. AKPORODE CLARK (NIGERIA) - HONOURING MEMORY OF IMAM HARON, SEPTEMBER 27, 1979
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - B. AKPORODE CLARK (NIGERIA) - APPEALING FOR SOLIDARITY WITH CHILDREN OF SOUTHERN AFRICA, OCTOBER 15, 1979
STATEMENT BY THE ACTING CHAIRMAN - SERGE ELIE CHARLES (HAITI) - APPEALING FOR ACTION TO SAVE THE LIFE OF JAMES MANGE, NOVEMBER 16, 1979
MESSAGE BY THE CHAIRMAN - B. AKPORODE CLARK (NIGERIA) - PAYING TRIBUTE TO BISHOP AMBROSE REEVES FOR HIS CONTRIBUTION TO STRUGGLE TO ELIMINATE APARTHEID, DECEMBER 10, 1979
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - B. AKPORODE CLARK (NIGERIA) - CONDEMNING ARREST OF VICTOR MATLOU, MEMBER OF THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS, DECEMBER 18, 1979
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - B. AKPORODE CLARK (NIGERIA) - CONDEMNING BRUTAL SENTENCE IMPOSED ON REVEREND DAVID RUSSELL, FEBRUARY 29, 1980
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - B. AKPORODE CLARK (NIGERIA) - COMMENDING ANTI-APARTHEID ACTIVITY BY STUDENT AND YOUTH GROUPS, MARCH 12, 1980
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - B. AKPORODE CLARK (NIGERIA) - EXTENDING CONDOLENCES ON DEATH OF LILLIAN NGOYI, MARCH 20, 1980
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - B. AKPORODE CLARK (NIGERIA) - COMMENDING FREE SOUTH AFRICAN POLITICAL PRISONERS CAMPAIGN, MARCH 21, 1980
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - B. AKPORODE CLARK (NIGERIA) - APPEALING TO CBS-TV NOT TO BROADCAST BOXING MATCH IN BOPHUTHATSWANA, OCTOBER 3, 1980
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - B. AKPORODE CLARK (NIGERIA) - COMMENDING SIX UNITED STATES ORGANISATIONS FOR CAMPAIGN AGAINST INVESTMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA, JANUARY 9, 1981
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - B. AKPORODE CLARK (NIGERIA) - APPEALING FOR SUPPORT TO BISHOP DESMOND TUTU, APRIL 10, 1981
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - B. AKPORODE CLARK (NIGERIA) - ON ELECTION OF FRANCOIS MITTERAND AS PRESIDENT OF FRANCE, MAY 13, 1981
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - ALHAJI YUSUFF MAITAMA-SULE (NIGERIA) - APPEALING FOR DENUNCIATION OF THREATS AGAINST SOUTH AFRICAN COUNCIL OF CHURCHES, SEPTEMBER 17, 1981
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - ALHAJI YUSUFF MAITAMA-SULE (NIGERIA) - COMMENDING WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES FOR BREAKING TIES WITH BANKS LENDING TO SOUTH AFRICA, SEPTEMBER 17, 1981
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - ALHAJI YUSUFF MAITAMA-SULE (NIGERIA) - CALLING FOR EFFECTIVE OBSERVANCE OF THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF ANC, NOVEMBER 11, 1981
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - ALHAJI YUSUFF MAITAMA-SULE (NIGERIA) - EXPRESSING SHOCK AT DEATH IN DETENTION OF A POLITICAL PRISONER IN SOUTH AFRICA, NOVEMBER 27, 1981
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - ALHAJI YUSUFF MAITAMA-SULE (NIGERIA) - ON ASSASSINATION OF GRIFFITH MXENGE, NOVEMBER 27, 1981
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - ALHAJI YUSUFF MAITAMA-SULE (NIGERIA) - ON DETENTION OF TRADE UNION AND OTHER LEADERS IN SOUTH AFRICA, DECEMBER 1, 1981
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - ALHAJI YUSUFF MAITAMA-SULE (NIGERIA) - EXPRESSING SHOCK AT DEATH IN PRISON OF DR. NEIL AGGETT, FEBRUARY 8, 1982
STATEMENT BY THE ACTING CHAIRMAN - VLADIMIR ALEKSEYEVICH KRAVETS (UKRAINE) - CONDEMNING SENTENCE IMPOSED ON BARBARA ANN HOGAN, OCTOBER 21, 1982
STATEMENT BY THE ACTING CHAIRMAN - VLADIMIR KRAVETS (UKRAINE) - CONDEMNING SOUTH AFRICAN RAID INTO LESOTHO, DECEMBER 9, 1982
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - ALHAJI YUSUFF MAITAMA-SULE (NIGERIA) - ON INQUEST ON THE DEATH OF DR. NEIL AGGETT, DECEMBER 23, 1982
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - ALHAJI YUSUFF MAITAMA-SULE (NIGERIA) - PAYING TRIBUTE TO LATE CANON L. JOHN COLLINS, JANUARY 4, 1983
STATEMENT BY THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT BILL, AUGUST 25, 1983
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - ALHAJI YUSUFF MAITAMA-SULE (NIGERIA) - ON THE DEATH OF DR. YUSUF DADOO, SEPTEMBER 23, 1983
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN - ALHAJI YUSUFF MAITAMA-SULE (NIGERIA) - PAYING TRIBUTE TO MEMORY OF REV. MICHAEL SCOTT, SEPTEMBER 23, 1983
OPENING STATEMENT BY MAJOR-GENERAL JOSEPH N. GARBA (NIGERIA), CHAIRMAN, ON THE OCCASION OF THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE AGAINST APARTHEID, NEW YORK, 6 MAY 1988
1. The Committee was expanded in subsequent years with the addition of India, Indonesia, Sudan, Syria, Trinidad and Toboago, Ukraine and Zimbabwe. Peru replaced Costa Rica when it resigned.