So appalled were Pallo Jordan, Ebrahim Ebrahim, and I at the Labour Party’s suspension of Jeremy Corbyn, their former leader, on October 29, that we drafted a petition directed to his successor, Keir Starmer, as follows:

We, South Africans, are deeply disturbed at the Labour Party’s treatment and suspension of Jeremy Corbyn. We can attest to his outstanding support for the liberation of South Africa from apartheid, and his resolute stand against all forms of racism, discrimination, antisemitism, xenophobia, injustice and oppression of people, wherever such evils are manifested. We stand in solidarity with Jeremy Corbyn and join those in Britain calling for his reinstatement without delay.

We were soon joined by other South Africans, who — like us — had worked and organized for the African National Congress (ANC) and the Anti-Apartheid Movement (AAM), studied or lived in Britain during the struggle years, had many friends in the British labor movement, and had insight into, among other political and trade union formations, the Labour Party.