Nelson Mandela Scottish Memorial Foundation

The charity was incorporated in December 2016, with these purposes:

“The advancement of heritage and education, particularly through increasing knowledge and understanding of:

i) the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela;

ii) his role in the struggle for freedom and human rights in South Africa

iii) the lessons of that struggle for continued active commitment to human rights, equality and racial harmony

iv) the historic role of Glasgow in particular and of Scotland more generally in the world-wide campaign for his release and for human rights in South Africa.

v) Scotland’s strong historical connections with other leading South African figures and its wider links with South Africa’s history.”

            A major early objective has been and remains to fund and organise the erection of a permanent Scottish memorial to Nelson Mandela, a statue in Nelson Mandela Place in Glasgow – the location for many years of the Consulate in Scotland of apartheid South Africa and so the focus for much protest during the anti-apartheid struggle. The Place was renamed in 1986 as a sign of the city’s rejection of everything the Consulate stood for.  This statue appeal involves serious fundraising, so all help will be welcome.  

 Video about the renaming of Nelson Mandela Place  https://mandelascottishmemorial.org/video-35th-anniversary-of-naming-nelson-mandela-place

            This fundraising has, of course, inevitably involved distributing much information about all the points in our purposes as we explain the reasons for the appeal.  Once the statue is in place, it is intended to be used as a visual aid and prompt for enquiry and education about all these issues into the indefinite future, with signage links to a wide range of information and educational material. A resource pack for schools, raising fundamental issues about racism, injustice and the responsibility of all to oppose these,  as well as looking into the history, is already in active use, and available online to read or download anywhere in the world.

To read or download the school resource, see bit.ly/WhenMandela

             In 1981 Glasgow was the first city in the world to grant its Freedom to Nelson Mandela, who was then still imprisoned on Robben Island for his key part in the struggle to overthrow apartheid. The Freedom was given in the teeth of strong local opposition, and made an impact across the world.  Aberdeen, Dundee and Midlothian, plus four local authorities in England and one in Wales, soon took the same step, followed later by Edinburgh. The initiative arose out of the strong commitment of Glasgow and of many other local authorities, from Aberdeen in 1962 onwards, to the economic boycott of apartheid and support of all kinds for the liberation of South Africa. Another highlight arising directly out of the 1981 Freedom initiative was a global petition from Provosts and Mayors of the world, presented to the United Nations.   This strong support was complemented by that of trade unions, churches and many others, not least the local and student anti-apartheid groups that existed in Scotland – up to 28 of them at one time.

 Video to mark 40th anniversary of Mandela's Freedom of Glagow   https://mandelascottishmemorial.org/40years

            Parts of this history have been written, though much remains to be researched. Recollections and information about related activity across Scotland would be very welcome. Large numbers of people everywhere were involved in one way or another, and countless stories and experiences remain unrecorded which would be of great interest and value to present and future generations.

If you have a story to tell about the campaigns against apartheid and for Mandela's release, contact us at [email protected] , or through the contact form on our website.

One telling of the Glasgow Mandela Story is a pamphlet of that title written by Brian Filling. The Kindle electronic edition is available for 99p at http://bit.ly/glasmandstory

             We believe Scotland’s long links with South Africa over centuries, for both good and ill, and the widespread support for the anti-apartheid cause are all an important part of Scotland’s history and heritage which deserves to be known and much of it celebrated. Help with information and with funds is vital.

See our website at https://mandelascottishmemorial.org/ for more information, including a selection of short videos, and a contact form for getting in touch.

Your donation will be much appreciated.