International Brigade Against Apartheid: Secrets of the People’s War That Liberated South Africa

I thought I had a pretty good understanding of the global anti-apartheid movement until I read this extraordinary collection of essays. This book blew my mind!

—Robin D.G. Kelley

In this book we read for the first time from internationalists who secretly worked for the ANC’s armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), in the struggle to liberate South Africa from apartheid rule. They acted as couriers, provided safe houses in neighboring states and within South Africa, helped infiltrate combatants across borders, and smuggled tons of weapons into the country in the most creative of ways. Driven by a spirit of international solidarity, they were prepared to take huge risks and face great danger.

The internationalists reveal what motivated them as volunteers, not mercenaries: they gained nothing for their endeavors save for the self-esteem in serving a just cause. Against such clandestine involvement. the book includes contributions from key people in the international Anti-Apartheid Movement (AAM) and its public mobilization to isolate the apartheid regime. These include campaigns like Stop the Sports Tours, boycotting South African products and Black American solidarity. The Cuban, East German and Russian contributions outline those countries’ support for the ANC and MK. The public, global AAM campaigns provide the dimension from which internationalists who secretly served MK emerged.

ISBN Print: 978-1-990263-41-5
Publication Date: April 2022
Page Count: 384
Binding Type: Softcover
Trim Size: 6in x 9in
Language: English