Before a permanent representation of the ANC was established in Canada, the organization's work was done by a part time Toronto Committee. A need to have a permanent representative was expressed after a tour of Canada by John Gaeshewe (SACTU) and Yusuf Dadoo (ANC) in April 1975. Reasons for establishing a permanent ANC office were that: (i) work was beyond the scope of the part time Toronto Committee; (ii) following the tour of SACTU and ANC representatives, increased support was anticipated from Canadians, and (iii) that the struggle in Southern Africa was intensifying and this necessitated more support. Having permanent representation would have its problems too. Firstly, immigration control was tight and the Canadian government was not friendly towards liberation movements. The second difficulty was around living expenses. The ANC headquarters could not afford to finance the ANC chief representative in Canada, which meant that this person would have to be supported by local funds. Expenses would also be encountered around office resources and the need for the chief representative to travel to headquarters and make trips around Canada. Because of these perceived difficulties, the office would be opened on a trial basis for a year. The ANC mission office in Canada was thus opened in 1978, even though ANC activity in the country can be gleaned from correspondence of the ANC Toronto Committee from as early as 1970. To improve living conditions and to have available accommodation for visiting ANC members, the first chief rep, Yusuf Saloojee established ANC residence in Toronto in 1980.

The Canada mission office had three chief representatives: Yusuf Saloojee 1978 - 1989, Peter Mahlangu 1989 - 1991, and Victor Moche 1991 - 1994. The chief representative was the head of the organisation's mission office. He was accountable to headquarters and did the organisation's political work. The chief representative liaised with trade unions, governments, churches and other organized bodies. In addition to disseminating information he/she also had to engage in the activity of raising funds for furthering political work and sustaining the organisation and its members. Funds raised by mission offices in developed countries were furthermore earmarked for mission offices in underdeveloped countries for resources such as literature, office equipment, clothing and food. In the 1990 report delivered by Peter Mahlangu at a chief representatives' conference in Johannesburg, he points out that the chief representative in Canada was faced with the setback of having no ANC members who worked full time for the organization. His office had thus to be dependent on those who offered assistance, constrained as they were by their full-time jobs and family demands.

Profile of Canada chief representative:

Yusuf Saloojee: The first Chief representative of the ANC in Canada. Before the ANC had permanent representation in Canada, Saloojee was secretary of the ANC Toronto Committee. He became the organisation's chief representative in Canada in 1978 when the organisation opened its first mission office in the country. He was the longest serving chief representative of the ANC in Canada as he stayed in the position until 1989. Upon leaving Canada Saloojee was deployed to the organisation's International Department in Lusaka.

Peter Mahlangu: in South Africa Mahlangu was an organizer for the South African Allied Workers' Union. He was sent to Canada in 1986 by the South African Congress of Trade Unions (SACTU) to be its representative and to strengthen international working class solidarity. When he assumed duties as a chief rep in 1989 he presented his credentials to the people of Canada in a ceremony organized by Canadians supporting the ANC. He however could not present his credentials to the Canadian government because it did not recognize the ANC at the time. Solidarity with other organizations, especially trade unions thrived under Mahlangu. There were various activities undertaken with Canadians, music concerts, marches, hosting Mandela following his release. He held the post of chief representative until 1991 when he was redeployed.

Victor Moche: was in Algiers before coming to Canada. He was the ANC's last chief rep in Canada and assumed office in 1991. During his tenure the Canada mission office embarked on projects to publicise and raise funds for voter education and election campaigns in South Africa.

The Canada mission was divided into units, and the main units were: (i) Toronto, which was the biggest unit and location of the ANC chief representative's office in Canada. This unit was thus the main centre of ANC activities in the country. (ii) ANC Vancouver unit; (iii) ANC Manitoba unit, and (iv) ANC Quebec unit. There also was an ANC Maritime region unit in Halifax. {for further information on units see the following: the 1990 Annual report by P. Mahlangu in box 40, RPC reports in box 52, and boxes 53 to 55 on units}.

The ANC always had one project or another going on. Projects were meant to achieve a number of objectives: keep the international community's attention on apartheid South Africa, raise resources for anti-apartheid activities, imposition of sanctions against South Africa, the education of South African exiles, sustaining the ANC and its activities. One of such projects undertaken in Canada was that of having a French edition of Sechaba. Producing Sechaba in French was necessitated, firstly, by the need to inform, and secondly by growing anti-apartheid support in French speaking areas. This edition would supply such French speaking areas as Canada, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Senegal, Madagascar, Algeria and Congo-Brazzaville. This edition would be produced in Canada by CIDMAA and edited by Yusuf Saloojee to ensure that it reflects ANC policy. Distribution would be organized by CIDMAA in Canada, European NGOs in Europe and by ANC offices in Africa (See boxes 71 and 72 on this project).

One of the strengths of the ANC in its fight against the system of apartheid was its ability and openness to working with other organizations. So too did the organisation's mission office in Canada. Solidarity with Canadian people helped make a success of various activities the organization undertook. Solidarity with Canadian people was manifest by working together with labour unions, anti-apartheid organizations, native groups, women groups, church, community and student groups. Such solidarity was not only directed at shaping the anti-apartheid struggle, it also dealt with human rights afflicting the Canadian indigenous peoples and broader human rights and development issues.