The first regional committee of the UDF is established in Natal

Anti-apartheid organisations united under the umbrella of the United Democratic Front. One of the first steps in creating the front was to establish regional committees to consult with organizations in that region. On 21 May 1983 the Natal UDF region was launched, followed by the Transvaal in June and the Western Cape in July. The national UDF was formally launched in August of the same year, at a meeting in Mitchell's Plain in Cape Town. This meeting was attended by delegates from over 320 community groups, trade unions, women's groups and students' organisations. The UDF was formed to oppose constitutional reforms by the government of P.W. Botha, and to demand the complete dismantling of apartheid rule and a non-racial and democratic South Africa. The slogan was "UDF unites; apartheid divides." Groups that worked with government or homeland structures as well as those who broke the sport and cultural boycotts against South Africa were classified with the state as the enemy.