UDF Launch Site Declared Western Cape Heritage Site

Riyaz Patel

The birthplace of the United Democratic Front (UDF) is officially being declared a Western Cape heritage site.

On this day in 1983, thousands of people gathered at the Rocklands Community Hall in Mitchells Plain for the official launch of the historic UDF.

Founding leaders like Allan Boesak believed in bringing together civic organisations, religious groups, trade unions, and other organisations to fight apartheid.

Steps towards forming the UDF began in the late 1970s, and moved forward when Allan Boesak called for a ‘united front’ of ‘churches, civic associations, trade unions, student organisations, and sports bodies’ to fight oppression.

He was addressing the Transvaal Anti-SAIC Committee (TASC) at a conference in Johannesburg on 23 January 1983, but this part of his speech was unplanned – and even he was surprised to see the result.

A plaque was unveiled at the hall Tuesday to declare the building a provincial heritage site.

Various