"Boycott South African Goods stamp" [Temp.2024.5.3]

Catalogue Number
Temp.2024.5.3

Object Name
stamp

Title
DANGER contaminated with apartheid - BOYCOTT SOUTH AFRICAN GOODS

Place
South Africa; Namibia

People
Anti-Apartheid Movement

Events
Anti-apartheid movement

Date
1980s

Description
Circular yellow stamp with a skull and crossbones illustration at the top. Red text reads "DANGER!" in the middle, followed by black text "contaminated with apartheid - BOYCOTT SOUTH AFRICAN GOODS".


Apartheid was a system in South Africa which meant that racial segregation was enforced by law. South Africa also extended these laws over to Namibia (then South West Africa), one of the last countries in Africa to gain independence in 1990. Apartheid formally ended in South Africa in 1990, a new constitution was adopted in 1993, and the first all-race national elections were held in 1994.


The boycott movement was set up in 1959 calling for brands like Sainsburys, Tesco and Marks and Spencer to cancel their contracts with South African suppliers; and failing that, for customers to boycott those shops and products. The movement was successful globally and in a British opinion poll in 1986 found that 27% of people boycotted South African products.

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