The History of RSSAF

The Rhodes Scholars' Southern Africa Forum was established in 1988 and was originally constituted as the Rhodes Scholars Against Apartheid (RSAA). The aim of the forum was to provide a platform to raise awareness amongst Rhodes Scholars of the political upheaval within South Africa, and the urgent need to redress issues of racism, colonialism and apartheid, and to foster change.

Following the release of Nelson Mandela and progress in negotiations towards the end of apartheid, the organisation shifted its focus towards addressing the political, social and economic issues affecting the greater Southern African region. Consequently, in 1991 the organisation was renamed the Rhodes Scholars' Southern Africa Forum (RSSAF) and adopted a broader mandate to promote discussion about the historical link between the scholarship and Southern Africa, and to support development projects in the region.

In recent years the organisation has expanded the remit of its focus to include sub-Saharan Africa, with a particular emphasis still on those countries in Southern Africa affected by the activities of Cecil John Rhodes.