On 22 January 1984, amidst the Apartheid government’s constitutional reform plans, the United Democratic Front (UDF) embarked on an ambitious campaign to collect one million signatures from the public, declaring opposition against the Apartheid government and its constitutional reforms, and as a show of support for the UDF. By the end of the campaign in October, it had only managed to collect close to 400 000 signatures. The organisation blamed the failure of the campaign on police harassment of its supporters and prospective participants, but the party’s internal conflict, inexperience of its leadership and differences in priorities could also have contributed to the disappointing outcome.
eventREF E-0072921Revised
22 January 1984
The UDF launches the Million Signatures Campaign and by October collect just under 400 000 signatures.
- Updated
- 7 Jan 2020
How we know this
- 01Seekings J.(2000) The UDF: A History of the United Democratic Front in South Africa, 1983-1991, David Phillip Publishers (Pty) Ltd, 208 Werdmuller Centre, Claremont 7708 South Africa, pp 100
- 02SAHO, UDF Timeline, from South African History Online, [online], Available at www.sahistory.org.za [Accessed: 8 January 2014]
Last updated · 7 Jan 2020
South African History Online. (2012, January 20). The UDF launches the Million Signatures Campaign and by October collect just under 400 000 signatures. . South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0072921
South African History Online (2012) 'The UDF launches the Million Signatures Campaign and by October collect just under 400 000 signatures. ', South African History Online, 20 January. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0072921 (Accessed: 19 October 2026).
South African History Online, The UDF launches the Million Signatures Campaign and by October collect just under 400 000 signatures. [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0072921, (accessed 19 October 2026).
"The UDF launches the Million Signatures Campaign and by October collect just under 400 000 signatures. ." South African History Online, 20 Jan. 2012, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0072921. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.
South African History Online. "The UDF launches the Million Signatures Campaign and by October collect just under 400 000 signatures. ." South African History Online. January 20, 2012. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0072921.
Also on 22 January
- 1837Piet Retief’s Great Trek manifesto is completed
- 1874Josephine Wood, founder of the South African Library for the Blind, is born in Grahamstown
- 1936Jan Volschenk, a well-known South African painter, dies
- 1964Kenneth Kaunda becomes the Prime Minister of Northern Rhodesia (Zambia)
- 1981Percy Qoboza, editor of the Post, states that it is difficult to see how a credible newspaper for Blacks can be created in South Africa
- 1992Two South Africans are awarded the Unesco Peace Prize
- 1999Former Vaal policeman Gerhardus Peens admits his role in the Boipatong Massacre
- 2001South African History Online goes live
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