The Swedish South Africa Committee (SSAC, Svenska Sydafrikakommittén, SSAK) was founded on March 6, 1961. Among the founders were Anders Thunborg (later minister of defence), Joachim Israel (later professor in sociology), Björn Beckman (later professor in political science) and the writer Per Wästberg (later member of the Swedish...
The Swedish South Africa Committee (SSAC, Svenska Sydafrikakommittén, SSAK) was founded on March 6, 1961. Among the founders were Anders Thunborg (later minister of defence), Joachim Israel (later professor in sociology), Björn Beckman (later professor in political science) and the writer Per Wästberg (later member of the Swedish Academy). The Committee was engaged intensely in opinion and lobbying work with the objective to start a consumer's boycott of South African goods. The aim was as well to get the Swedish government to proclaim sanctions against South Africa. They had some success in getting some local authorities as well as the army to stop using South African products. The Swedish monopoly state liquor shops also stopped importing from South Africa. SSAC arranged several visits to Sweden by South African activists against apartheid, whom performed at many meetings all over the country. The Committee also raised funds for mainly Defence & Aid Fund in London. When the liberation fronts started an armed struggle the Committee decided in 1965 to support that type of resistance as well. The Committee dominated the anti-apartheid work in Sweden during the 1960s but its activities decreased as other organizations became more active. (Source:
Swedish South Africa Committee, SSAK the Nordic Documentation on the Liberation Struggle website; Interview with
Per Wästberg on the Nordic Documentation on the Liberation Struggle website;
Curriculum vitae of Per Wästberg; and the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory website; all accessed May 28, 2013.)