London Recruits - by Ken Keable (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The history of the Anti-Apartheid movement brings up images of boycotts and public campaigns in the UK. But another story went on behind the scenes, in secret, one that has been never told before.

This is the story of the foreign recruits and their activities in South Africa, how they acted in defiance of the Apartheid government and its police on the instructions of the African National Congress. It tells of:

- ANC Banners that unfurled

- ANC speeches that sounded through public places

- Buckets that exploded and showered ANC leaflets

- Transportation of weapons, communications, logistics

- Helping ANC fighters to enter South Africa,

- and more.....

Many recruits were Young Communists, others were Trotskyists or independent socialists; from the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, and the USA, and they all took amazing risks.

Some paid a heavy price for their support. This is their untold story.

Review Quotes

"Schechter was 25 then, and attending the London School of Economics. He flew from 'swinging London' to apartheid Pretoria, his assignment to make mail drops to anti-apartheid activists and set off harmless 'poster bombs' at prearranged times to demonstrate the ANC remained a political force despite that country's harsh repression. Schechter's recollection, entitled 'The Day I Joined the Revolution' - which includes a poem he wrote at the time - is one of 37 revealing, firsthand accounts offered by people with similar assignments in "London Recruits"." --www.BuffaloNews.com

"It's a story [of] idealism and internationalism well worth remembering. And that spirit is alive today also, as Kasrils, Tutu and other anti-Apartheid veterans, having achiev[ed] their own country's liberation, now work with unstinting dedication in the cause of Palestinian freedom." --www.CounterPunch.org

About the Author

Ken Keable is a former antiapartheid foreign volunteer. Z. Pallo Jordan is the former minister of arts and culture of the Republic of South Africa and a former member of the research unit of the African National Congress. He was also elected to be a member of parliament in the National Assembly of South Africa and is the former minister of environmental affairs and tourism. Ronnie Kasrils is the author of "Unlikely Secret Agent" and the former minister for intelligence services. He is also a former member of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress as well as a former member of the Central Committee of the South African Communist Party.