SASPU National, 1980 - 1987

SASPU National was one of two publications produced by the South African Students Press Union (SASPU), the other being SASPU Focus. A non-profit newspaper, about 25 000 copies of SASPU National were distributed mostly through organisations. The National Union of South African Students (NUSAS) was founded in 1924 at Grey College, Bloemfontein. It began as an apolitical organisation, which aimed to further national cooperation between students, and cooperation with student leaders in other countries. In 1933 Afrikaans students broke away after a debate about the affiliation to NUSAS of the first black campus, Fort Hare. After the war NUSAS remained apolitical, believing it should only oppose discrimination in education. The mass militancy of the 1950s influenced the union in the latter half of the decade and NUSAS linked itself closely with the South African Liberal Party. During the 1980s NUSAS participated in the democratic movement in various ways: extending its role through participation in national poliitcal campaigns like the 'Free Mandela Campaign', and through support of consumer boycotts. Participation in the United Democratic Front (UDF) in particular had consolidated NUSAS' political role. NUSAS together with the Azanian Students Organisation (AZASO) and the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) formed the student wing of the UDF
Several issues were banned during the period of publication but in most cases the ban was later lifted. Volume 1 No 1 is, in fact, unnumbered, but for retrieval purposes an issue number has been assigned.