When the Nationalist Government banned the African National Congress (ANC) on 8 April 1960, the ANC began operating underground in South Africa. Outside the country the ANC started to establish itself as the official voice of South Africa's voteless masses. By the 1970s recognition of the ANC's legitimacy was growing, not only amongst the multiplicity of non-governmental anti-apartheid organizations, but also among foreign governments.
The first missions were opened in London, Accra, Cairo, and Dar-es-Salaam. By 1980, the ANC had offices and representatives in 32 countries. The external missions worked to win support for the overthrow of apartheid by promoting the cause of the ANC and urging international economic pressure against the South African government. The missions also provided assistance to South African exiles. Following the banning of the organisation, Oliver Tambo, President General of the ANC left South Africa to head of the ANC's external operations.
On 2 February 1990 the bans on the ANC and other political organisations were lifted. A process of negotiations between the unbanned organisations and the South African government ensued. In 1992 the ANC instructed its missions to collate and box their records for shipment to South Africa. These records were to form the basis of the official archives of the ANC, from which a true history of the ANC's role in the struggle against apartheid could be written.
The Namibia Mission of the African National Congress records are comprised of four series: Correspondence, Periodicals, Subject Files and Newsclippings.
The Correspondence Series I (0.2 linear meters) spans the years 1990 to 1994 and includes letters, memos and faxes between the Windhoek office in Namibia, other ANC departments, and other organisations and governments. Topics include repatriation of ANC cadres, the status of Walvis Bay as a colony of South Africa, official ANC statements, requests to Namibia for visas, residency status, security clearance, and identity cards, and diplomatic matters with foreign countries and embassies, including Botswana, Congo, Cuba, Denmark, India, and Iran.
The Periodicals Series II (0.1 linear meters) includes magazines, trade directories, and studies and surveys conducted by the Namibian Department of Health. All materials were published between 1991 and 1994.
The Subject Files Series III (0.8 linear meters) is arranged alphabetically and spans the years 1989 to 1994. Records include correspondence and documents relating to various ANC departments, statements and meetings concerning constitutional matters and the rebuilding of South Africa, business matters, such as requests for office equipment and housing, and papers on South African foreign policy, negotiations, and HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa
The Newsclippings Series VI (0.1 linear meters) documents events of the ANC and the Apartheid in South Africa. It also includes press releases of the Namibia Mission. The series dates range from 1990 – 1994.
This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
The Collection is Open
ANC Archives Committee