South Africa and the United Kingdom (UK) faced what was seen as a worst diplomatic crisis because of tension over six dissidents hiding from police in the British Consulate in Durban. The South African government in retaliation for London's refusal to evict the fugitives announced it would not send four South African back to Britain to stand trial on charges of illegal export of arms. It is widely believed that those six dissidents were United Democratic Front (UDF) leaders Archie Gumede, Mewa Ramgobin, Paul David, George Sewpershad, MJ Naidoo and Billy Nair. All those at the consulate except Nair were charged with high treason.
eventREF E-0096443Revised
25 September 1984
South Africa and the United Kingdom embroiled in a diplomatic crisis
- Updated
- 30 Sep 2019
How we know this
- 01O’Malley, P. ‘1984’, from Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, [online], available at www.nelsonmandela.org (Accessed: 28 August 2013)
- 02South African History Online, ‘Roelof Frederik ‘Pik’ Botha’, [online], available at www.sahistory.org.za (Accessed: 28 August 2013)
- 03South African History Online, ‘Billy Nair’, [online], available at www.sahistory.org.za (Accessed: 28 August 2013)
Last updated · 30 Sep 2019
South African History Online. (2013, September 20). South Africa and the United Kingdom embroiled in a diplomatic crisis. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096443
South African History Online (2013) 'South Africa and the United Kingdom embroiled in a diplomatic crisis', South African History Online, 20 September. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096443 (Accessed: 8 October 2026).
South African History Online, South Africa and the United Kingdom embroiled in a diplomatic crisis [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096443, (accessed 8 October 2026).
"South Africa and the United Kingdom embroiled in a diplomatic crisis." South African History Online, 20 Sept. 2013, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096443. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.
South African History Online. "South Africa and the United Kingdom embroiled in a diplomatic crisis." South African History Online. September 20, 2013. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096443.
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